I saw a program on TV in which people in China were holding church sermons in caves, standing up.
Out of curiousity what would have happened in the government found out about them?

There are two kinds of church, one is recognized by the government and the other is so-called underground christian.
A lot of underground christian operate just like pyramid sales and do not act as a real chrisitian.

From what I understand, Western religions such as Protestant Christianity and Roman Catholicism are not allowed in China. There are state-sponsored organizations that purport to represent these religions in China but they more likely to be propaganda mouthpieces for the CCP. However, Asian religions
such as Islam, Buddhism and Taoism are allowed in China, and they're making a dramatic comeback.

Burn dem Christian churches down!

And by the way, East Asia has a strong anti-Christian history: the Boxer Rebellion in China, the Anti-Christian Edicts of Tokugawa Japan, etc. I don't know how the CCP view Christianity but China today does not recognize the Vatican nor does it allow Christian Churches. Believe it or not, Singapore prohibits Christians from proselyting for fear of antagonizing its majority citizens who are non-Christians. So China is not alone in being anti-Christian. Even in South Korea supposedly a hotbed of Protestantism in Asia, one sees a growing clash between anti-Western Korean Buddhists and pro-Western Korean Christians. In pre-communist Saigon, anti-Western Buddhist monks were self-immolating themselves while pro-Western Catholic priests could only stand back and watch South Vietnam fall to the Vietcong. Because Christianity is associated with the West, Asians who profess to be Christians are automatically viewed as being "white-washed".

They would most likely be forcibly disbanded and its leaders imprisoned. The CCP has a record of breaking up underground churches and demolishing existing ones. It's a sad state of affairs - I mean why shouldn't people be allowed to believe in what they want? If some Asians want to become Christians then who are we to step in their way when it's a private and personal choice?

there is religion freedom in china.

but for your case, they chop your head off.

the problem for today's chinese christian is that chinese need decent pastor who master bible well, but not those Korean pastors who even have not read bible.

All the stories about Christians being persecuted and not allowed to woship in China are LIES.

I am a Canadian AND A CHRISTIAN who has lived in China for 4 years and I am tired of hearing these lies spread by westerners about China. And by Chinese people who love to have a pity party for themselves.

The western media lies, the magazine and website Christianity Today lies, the ICC lies

There are Christian churches everywhere in China, you can buy Christian symbols everywhere and anywhere, like crosses etc and China prints more Christian bibles than any other country in the world.

In the 1980's law guaranteeing freedom of and protection for practise of religions were passed. Mao discouraged it because he wanted loyalty only to China. The new Government, a Democratic, Representative Presidental Communist system of Govt strengthened these laws and in 2004 there was a day when people were celebrating the new protection for their beliefs and practises. I was there.

China does not allow cults, plain and simple, many so-called Christian organizations are nothing more than cults, such as Falun Gong, seeking protection under the new laws. Falun Gong's leader is descended from alien "gods"; he is all powerful, all seeing, this cult seeks to overthrow the Chinese Govt. They interfered with attempts to control SARS, they burned clinics, beat and terrorized people seeking medical help. They have burned schools, and killed family members who dont share their beliefs. The face Falun Gong shows western countries is NOT a true face, it too is a lie.

The little girl who was burned at Tianamen Square had gasoline poured over her and was set on fire by her Falun Gong mother in an attempt to make the Governement look even worse.

This was during the Mao years and it WAS bad in China. BUT my point is that these cults are terrorists trying to overthrow the Chinese Government. They would NOT be allowed to exist in the USA, Canada or any other western country. They are NOT genuine Christian organizations. This is one example of false Christian organizations trying to operate within China.

Even before 2004 that Christians were worshiping openly in China. I was, the people I knew were.

IF what the posters here say is true WHY are there hundreds of churches with highly visible crosses, WHY are their sites all over the internet in China, with their addresses and times of worship? WHY are people openly wearing crosses and other symbols? WHY are Christian bibles and symbols for sale everywhere?

I could post thousands of links to Christian churches, services and organizations in China, but this should be enough to PROVE to you the media, the Christan sites in western countries, and the people on this forum are ALL LYING


http://www.dalian-city-church.com/index2.html

http://www.threeweb.ad.jp/logos/china/icfdalian/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalian_Catholic_Church

http://www.sandiegochinese.net/htmls/seid-prc.htm

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/...ent_9382721.htm

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index...;upload_id=1999

Yeah, although, my family isn't necessarily 'anti', they don't Christianity seriously.

I've seen quite a few churches when I went to China. But I rather China stay a secular state where religion plays next to no role in society. There is a really thin line between a religion and a cult. Both of them promote the worship of something that cannot be proven to exist, but one is in line with values of the society one goes against. But the values changes from society to society so the lines are blurred even more. I think it's time to promote science and let religion become like Greek mythology.

Wrong and wrong. Five religions are officially allowed in China: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism.
And of these religions, it's the Christian ones that are on the rise.

Christianity is a religion that grows on poverty, the uneducated and misery. Later on it always steps away from its beliefs and becomes profit based. the foreign missionaries do crap in china, because they believe that god will appreciate them more in the afterlife, the more people that donates for their $hit the more money they get even as dirt poor they are,as long as these converts believe that they would be rich after death.

Shooting your mouth like so, you need to do the research and back it up. And please do not forget to show us.

Rofl - do you even know what the tenets of Christianity are - do you know anything about the core teachings of Scripture? Or are you just putting your (bound) foot in your mouth?

Laoshare:
Right or wrong, he dares to speak his mind; thousand times stronger than some snake oil salesmen politicians.
Jesus in Beijing:
How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power by David Aikman
In today Christianity, the greatest numbers of converts are shifting from the west to the east. So are the blessings.
India, China and Indonesia are 3 of the many places experiencing spirtual revival regardless of human menial negative opinions.
Hahaha, I know all along you g
guys know $hits about Christianity like I know $hits about MSN.
"jesus looked like an arab" hahaha!
China is very relaxed with Christianity, because Chinese government finally realizes that religions are good for China.

Red fox ace:
FYI, every time Christianity has been persecuted, it has become stronger than before. (The same is often true of many other religions too.)
Jesus in Beijing:
How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power by David Aikman
Did I mention that David Aikman is a senior professor at my college?
That's odd. I've taken Bibles into China for distribution and never had a problem with the government on that.





Ignore these trolls, retarded christians who believe anything the bible says because "god said so".

It is all about drama. Guys from the West wanted to portray Chinese Christians like devotees of early Christian age. I am not sure if what you saw is true or staged, but I can positively tell you they don't have to do that, 'cause governments at all levels do not really care. So long as priests keep talking about the virtues and teachings of God instead of launching a fiery attack against the State, officials turn a blind eye to them.

I think there are roughly two kinds of churches. The first one is the so-called Family Churches in which a group of believers would gather and pray and help each other out in times of distress; it is more like safety net, and you are likely to witness Christianity sharing beds with local animism, the sort of heresy the Vatican must frown upon. The other is the state-sponsored churches; the clergy is maintained and appointed by the State. I attended church services in Singapore and elsewhere out of curiosity, and recently visited a local church as I was pestered by a newly converted colleague. I diid not really see much difference between the ones I saw abroad and at home. Disappointing for a muck-raking western reporter.

Of course, I am not saying that people can enjoy the same kind of religious freedom as their western peers. But I'd like to point out that there is much room for all kinds of religious pratices. I was approached by zealous missionaries in the street for a couple of times; it is supposedly to be illegal, but no one comes to stop them. The thing is that Chinese are essentially non-believers; we take a utilitarian approach towards God and his pals. The spread of Chritianity happens to fill a void left by the crumbling of the State-owned enterprises; churches serve as mini social welfare agencies. And to me, it stops my parents from playing Mahjong all day, which, I think, is not bad.

Certainly a fake western media. Unfounded information. These are purely your imaginations