This is not the result of painstaking research and thinking. It's what I learned over a cup of tea today, and it surprised me to the point of coming back to my blog and write about it.
Christianity is increasingly popular in China. Especially with intellectuals. They start their own family churches where they gather on Sundays and read the bible together. They don't go to official churches because they are controlled by the government. But the small family churches give a sense of community and belonging that many are looking for.
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| A yuan for luck @ Jing'An Temple Shanghai |
When asked about Buddhism, historically very big in China, they answer that Buddhism is not a religion. It's a way of buying off your sins. Only when you have a problem you'll come to the temple to 'do business' with God. You cry, you pay, you pray and off you go. It's a lonely path, because there are no community gatherings and no priests to explain the books to you. Expectations are very high in Buddhism, and almost nobody is ready to let go of money in their life. Christianity on the other hand is a real religion, that has answers to day to day problems, and helps you to walk to right path.
I was shocked. The sex scandals, the idea of indulgence, the idea of going to a cold church to kneel down for a marble version of Jesus... Religion as a word even has a negative feel to it. But Buddhism! The path to enlightenment! The practice of yoga, and being a vegetarian. Even the idea of Karma has taken root in European society.
Two worlds, two languages, two cultures.
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