Quote: (11-03-2016 02:52 PM)Laner Wrote:
Wow, yeah never thought of that. I always wondered why there were so many "Christians" in China. I thought it was mostly about business.
Well, there are a lot of genuine Christians in China. However, their churches are illegal and underground, often in people's houses. The visible Churches have all been co-opted by the government, which has been successful in stymieing the Catholic Church. It doesn't mean that the membership is entirely fake, but they absolutely are under surveillance just like the KGB did with the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union.
The "Patriotic Catholic Church" is essential hostage and the Vatican is stuck trying to negotiate ties with them again and allow them to control the bishoprics which means they can't really do missionary work or spread the underground church without endangering things.
Obviously the Protestant sects don't have such issues which is why they've been far more successful in converts. In fact, it seems that they're far too successful for the government's liking. Then again, they are also the ones most likely to be diced up for their livers so some aging Politburo hack can get a transplant.