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Line 222: − − == Asian century, Christianity and its implications == − [[File:Niall Ferguson.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The atheist and [[Harvard University]] historian [[Niall Ferguson]] declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref name="blog.tifwe.org">[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>]] − The [[Asian Century]] is the projected 21st-century dominance of [[Asia]]n politics and culture by social scientists, based on current demographic and economic trends persisting. The characterization of the 21st century being an Asian Century parallels the 20th century seen as the American Century, and the 19th century as the British Century. See also: [[British atheism]] − − A 2011 study conducted by the Asian Development Bank estimates that an additional 3 billion Asians could enjoy living standards similar to those in Europe today, and the region could produce over half of global economic output by the middle of this century. It did warn, however, that the Asian Century is not cast in stone and it is merely a projection based on current trends.<ref>"[http://www.adb.org/publications/asia-2050-realizing-asian-century Asia 2050: Realizing the Asian Century | Asian Development Bank]". Adb.org. 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2012-07-28.</ref> − − In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China's fast economic growth over the last twenty years. Christianity is seeing rapid growth in China and the historian [[Niall Ferguson]] attributes this recent economic growth to the Protestant work ethic being more incorporated into Chinese society.<ref name="blog.tifwe.org"/> See: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] and [[Atheism and sloth]] − − === Effect on global influence of Christianity === − − Justin Wood also wrote: − {{Cquote|Ten thousand Chinese become Christians each day, according to a stunning report by ...veteran correspondent John Allen, and 200 million Chinese may comprise the world's largest concentration of Christians by mid-century, and the largest missionary force in history... − − I suspect that even the most enthusiastic accounts err on the downside, and that Christianity will have become a Sino-centric religion two generations from now. China may be for the 21st century what Europe was during the 8th-11th centuries, and America has been during the past 200 years: the natural ground for mass evangelization.<ref name="soundfaith.com">[https://soundfaith.com/sermons/24469-christianity-finds-a-fulcrum-in-asia Christianity Finds a Fulcrum in Asia] by Justin Wood</ref>}} − − Professor Fenggang Yang indicates: − {{Cquote|One sign of the advancing state of Christianity in China is that it is reaching out to the larger world. Nine hundred Chinese pastors gathered in Hong Kong this fall for the Mission 2030 Conference. Their goal: To send out 20,000 missionaries from mainland China by 2030.<ref>[http://globalplus.thearda.com/globalplus-religion-in-china/ GlobalPlus: Religion in China] By Fenggang Yang</ref>}} − − === Traditional values in Asia and increased global cultural influence === − − Geographic regions which achieve increased economic dominance often increase their cultural influence in the world. − − In the [[Western World]], the [[secular left]] promotes libertine morality (see: [[Atheist population and immorality]]) whereas Asian cultures often have more traditional/family values.<ref>[http://www.dimensionsofculture.com/2010/10/cultural-values-of-asian-patients-and-families/ Cultural Values of Asian Patients and Families]</ref> And desecularization occurring Asia along with a growth of religious conservatives in Asia, could further increase traditional/family values in Asia and the rest of the world. − − Furthermore, the desecularization of Asia is not an isolated event. The world is experiencing a global resurgence of religion (see: [[Growth of global desecularization]]). − − ==== Impact of Christianization of China on morality and Darwinism ==== − − ''See also:'' [[China and biblical creationism]] and [[Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality]] − − David Aikman served as ''Time Magazine'''s bureau chief in Beijing China. He wrote a book in 2003 entitled ''Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power''. − − In his book Aikman wrote:“China is in the process of becoming Christianised … [i.e.] it is possible that Christians will constitute 20 to 30 percent of China’s population within three decades” (p. 285). − − When Aikman provided this estimate in 2003, he did not have the benefit of seeing Chinese Christianity grow rapidly in urban areas among the influential upper eschelons of Chinese society which is presently happening. See: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] − − A review of his book declares and please note the bold font added for emphasis which indicates the Chinese Christians are generally not Darwinists: − {{Cquote|Who are these Chinese Christians? It would be absurd to say they are an organized body with uniform beliefs and opinions on everything, yet Aikman’s book leads to certain generalisations. They regard themselves as truly patriotic, tending to support their government politically, with the exception, perhaps, of being very pro-American and pro-Israel. Both preferences stem from their religious, rather than their political beliefs. Their theology particularly with the “house church” Protestant Christians, is Biblical and fundamentalist, and the churches with which they are linked in the United States are their equivalents. To some extent the reason for this is that fundamentalists see evangelism as an urgent matter – to save souls from hell – in a way that their “liberal” co-religionists, with their less exclusive attitude to the matter of salvation, do not. Such help, spiritual and material, as does come from foreign Christians, will tend to come from such evangelicals, who are mostly Americans. Part of the fundamentalist package, millenarianism – the belief in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to reign for a thousand years, regarded as probably an imminent event – includes a necessary, though uncertain role for the Jews. Other features widespread amongst Chinese Christians are the “speaking in tongues” and claims of miraculous healing and exorcism. Aikman does not mention it but it seems fair to add that '''such Christians will reject [[Evolution|Darwinism]]'''. If, as seems likely, they adhere to the Christian morality brought to China by the missionaries, they will also preach chastity before marriage and fidelity within it, and abhor homosexuality and abortion. All these are positions that have long been compromised or abandoned in Western Christendom, but in China would be welcomed by any government as desirable virtues, apart from, presumably, the last.<ref>[http://www.samizdata.net/2004/03/christianity-in-china/ Christianity in China]</ref>}}
→Asian century, Christianity and its implications
For more information, please: [[Atheism and medicine]] ([[Traditional Chinese medicine]])
For more information, please: [[Atheism and medicine]] ([[Traditional Chinese medicine]])
== Cooperation between Asian atheists and Western atheists nonexistent or virtually non-existent ==
== Cooperation between Asian atheists and Western atheists nonexistent or virtually non-existent ==