S
stumbler
Guest
by Bao Yuanjin
*Beijing (AsiaNews) - Conversions to Christianity are increasing in China and, from these, consecrated vocations, are also born. Despite incessant atheist propaganda and the lack of religious freedom, there are many young people who look into Christianity out of curiosity and some of these decide to become Catholic. A survey conducted by the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing showed that over 60% of students in Beijing and Shanghai are interested in Christianity.
The story set out below is significant in that it tells of the conversion of a Communist Party militant, a university student in the country’s northern region. China’s Communist Party is currently going through a crisis of identity and, at this point, few people still believe in Maoist and Communist ideals. But what is often not stressed enough is that many members of the Party are taking interest – even secretly – in religion and the Christian faith. It is by no means unusual for members and top officials to spend their weekends visiting their spiritual director, meditating in a Buddhist monastery, taking part in a celebration in a church or a temple: which shows, as our priest puts it, that the blood of martyrs becomes the seed of new Christians.(Note: names and geographic places in the story are undefined for security reasons)*
My name is Bao and I’m a priest in China’s north. I entered the priesthood several years ago. I was baptized only 11 years ago. Before that, I was an atheist, and indeed an activist in China’s Communist Party. At university, I was the leader of the young Communists at my faculty. In my heart, I had many plans and ideas for the future, but none of these had anything to do with God who, for me, did not even exist. As for my family, only my grandmother was a Protestant. When I was a child, I heard her once speak about Jesus: she said that Jesus was the son of God. But I was not interested in any religion. Education in atheism is mandatory in China from elementary school to university. My mind was full of atheist theories and I thought that believing in God was something childish, perhaps something even a bit stupid.
Activist in the Chinese Communist Party
In my fourth year of university, I joined the Party. People in China sign up to the Party a bit out of conviction, but mainly to make “friends” that can one day help them find a job, and give them a hand if they get into trouble. . . .
Full article
*Beijing (AsiaNews) - Conversions to Christianity are increasing in China and, from these, consecrated vocations, are also born. Despite incessant atheist propaganda and the lack of religious freedom, there are many young people who look into Christianity out of curiosity and some of these decide to become Catholic. A survey conducted by the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing showed that over 60% of students in Beijing and Shanghai are interested in Christianity.
The story set out below is significant in that it tells of the conversion of a Communist Party militant, a university student in the country’s northern region. China’s Communist Party is currently going through a crisis of identity and, at this point, few people still believe in Maoist and Communist ideals. But what is often not stressed enough is that many members of the Party are taking interest – even secretly – in religion and the Christian faith. It is by no means unusual for members and top officials to spend their weekends visiting their spiritual director, meditating in a Buddhist monastery, taking part in a celebration in a church or a temple: which shows, as our priest puts it, that the blood of martyrs becomes the seed of new Christians.(Note: names and geographic places in the story are undefined for security reasons)*
My name is Bao and I’m a priest in China’s north. I entered the priesthood several years ago. I was baptized only 11 years ago. Before that, I was an atheist, and indeed an activist in China’s Communist Party. At university, I was the leader of the young Communists at my faculty. In my heart, I had many plans and ideas for the future, but none of these had anything to do with God who, for me, did not even exist. As for my family, only my grandmother was a Protestant. When I was a child, I heard her once speak about Jesus: she said that Jesus was the son of God. But I was not interested in any religion. Education in atheism is mandatory in China from elementary school to university. My mind was full of atheist theories and I thought that believing in God was something childish, perhaps something even a bit stupid.
Activist in the Chinese Communist Party
In my fourth year of university, I joined the Party. People in China sign up to the Party a bit out of conviction, but mainly to make “friends” that can one day help them find a job, and give them a hand if they get into trouble. . . .
Full article