STATE OF CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA

by Kevin Murphy

Wenzhou Church in Sanjiang “Jerusalem of the East”

Planned demolition

12 years and 30 millionyuan ($4.7 million) to build

1,000 members in arms

Guarded by Military and Police

Deal in place

Motivation Crackdown on Christians?

Supposedly 10 more churches Wenzhou and Hangzhou

Pick up in repression (55%) Gov denies

Zhejiang Party Secretary Xia Baolong. “Too conspicuous.”

Churches are oversized Wenzhou; ½ acre vs. 2 acres Given a chance to “self rectify” 5 local government officials being investigated.

Background on Christians in China

The state only recognizes five official religions—Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism

58 million Protestants 67 million total Christians according to Pew Research in 1949 China’s Protestants numbered just 1

million persons and its entire Christian community was believed to be about 3 million

Background on Christians in China

Many Catholics do not register. Catholics aren’t allowed to pledge

allegiance to any foreign figures, like the Pope. Haven’t been allowed to since 1951.

Large underground church system

Large amount of “house churches”. the official Church which fears the house

churches may provoke a backlash.

The Future China’s Protestant population will swell to 160 million in 2025.

China’s overall Christian population could reach 247 million people by 2030.

The official line in China is that the government pledges “to protect and respect religion until such time as religion itself will disappear.”

The State fears the influence of zealous American evangelism and some of the House Church theology has those characteristics, but, in many other respects, it seems to be an indigenous Chinese movement - charismatic, energetic and young.

Between 2006 and 2013, ChinaAid says persecution has become “55.23% worse.”

Questions?

Sources Elgot, Jessica. "Fears Of Crackdown On Christians As China Demolishes

Church." Thehuffingtonpost.co.uk. The Huffington Post UK, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 May 2014.

Phillips, Tom. "China Accused of Anti-Christian Campaign as Church Demolition Begins." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 28 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 May 2014.

Bhattacharji, Preeti. "Religion in China." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 16 May 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

Gardam, Tim. "Why Is Christianity Booming in China?" Bbc.com. BBC News, 11 Sept. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

Keck, Zachary. "Is Communist China Christianity's Future?" The Diplomat. Thediplomat.com, 26 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.