New series explores religion in today’s China.
Official Chinese surveys now show that nearly one in three Chinese describe themselves as religious, an astonishing figure for an officially atheist country, where religion was banned until three decades ago.
The last 30 years of economic reform have seen an explosion of religious belief. China’s government officially recognizes five religions: Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam and Daoism. The biggest boom of all has been in Christianity, which the government has struggled to control.
In The Land of Mao, A Rising Tide of Christianity.
Is the First of five parts in the series: New Believers: A Religious Revolution in China which also covers Folk Religion, Islam and Buddhism.
Interesting, except one of my primary school classmate’s mom who is a Buddhist, none of the other persons that I know who is not an atheist. All my family members are strong atheists and we are particularly fond of Bertrand Russell. The city I live has population over 10 million and the 2 churches are always empty whenever I walk by them. I always believe the government leave them there for decorations purpose. I am just not sure how reliable those serveries are.