Changes

[[File:Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing China.jpg|thumb|right|250px|In front of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.]]

[[File:Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing China.jpg|thumb|right|250px|In front of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.]]

The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in [[East Asia]] (particularly [[China]]) and in [[secular Europe]]/Australia among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Western atheism and race]]

The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in [[East Asia]] (particularly [[China]]) and in [[secular Europe]]/Australia among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> ''See'' [[Western atheism and race]].

According to ''Slate'', "[[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity has been the fastest growing religion in China."<ref>[http://www.slate.com/bigideas/what-is-the-future-of-religion/essays-and-opinions/fenggang-yang-opinion When Will China Become the World’s Largest Christian Country?], Slate</ref>  [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] is especially growing sharply in China.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0111/In-China-a-church-state-showdown-of-biblical-proportions In China, a church-state showdown of biblical proportions]</ref> See also: [[Asian atheism]]

According to ''Slate'', "[[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity has been the fastest growing religion in China."<ref>[http://www.slate.com/bigideas/what-is-the-future-of-religion/essays-and-opinions/fenggang-yang-opinion When Will China Become the World’s Largest Christian Country?], Slate</ref>  [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] is especially growing sharply in China.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0111/In-China-a-church-state-showdown-of-biblical-proportions In China, a church-state showdown of biblical proportions]</ref> ''See also'' [[Asian atheism]].

In 2020, ''The Economist'' published an article entitled ''Protestant Christianity is booming in China'' which indicated:

In 2020, ''The Economist'' published an article entitled ''Protestant Christianity is booming in China'' which indicated:

{{cquote|The number of Christians in Communist China is growing so steadily that it by 2030 it could have more churchgoers than America....

{{cquote|The number of Christians in Communist China is growing so steadily that it by 2030 it could have more churchgoers than America....

Officially, the People's Republic of China is an [[Atheism|atheist]] country but that is changing fast as many of its 1.3 billion citizens seek meaning and spiritual comfort that neither communism nor capitalism seem to have supplied.

Officially, the People's Republic of China is an [[Atheism|atheist]] country but that is changing fast as many of its 1.3 billion citizens seek meaning and spiritual comfort that neither communism nor capitalism seems to have supplied.

Christian congregations in particular have skyrocketed since churches began reopening when Chairman Mao's death in 1976 signalled the end of the [[Cultural Revolution]].

Christian congregations in particular have skyrocketed since churches began reopening when Chairman Mao's death in 1976 signalled the end of the [[Cultural Revolution]].

Less than four decades later, some believe China is now poised to become not just the world's number one economy but also its most numerous Christian nation....

Less than four decades later, some believe China is now poised to become not just the world's number one economy but also its most numerous Christian nation....

China's [[Protestantism|Protestant]] community, which had just one million members in 1949, has already overtaken those of countries more commonly associated with an evangelical boom. In 2010 there were more than 58 million Protestants in China compared to 40 million in Brazil and 36 million in South Africa, according to the Pew Research Centre's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

China's [[Protestantism|Protestant]] community, which had just one million members in 1949, has already overtaken those of countries more commonly associated with an evangelical boom. In 2010, there were more than 58 million Protestants in China compared to 40 million in Brazil and 36 million in South Africa, according to the Pew Research Centre's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Prof Yang, a leading expert on religion in China, believes that number will swell to around 160 million by 2025. That would likely put China ahead even of the United States, which had around 159 million Protestants in 2010 but whose congregations are in decline.

Prof Yang, a leading expert on religion in China, believes that number will swell to around 160 million by 2025. That would likely put China ahead even of the United States, which had around 159 million Protestants in 2010 but whose congregations are in decline.

By 2030, China's total Christian population, including Catholics, would exceed 247 million, placing it above Mexico, Brazil and the United States as the largest Christian congregation in the world, he predicted.

By 2030, China's total Christian population, including Catholics, would exceed 247 million, placing it above Mexico, Brazil, and the United States as the largest Christian congregation in the world, he predicted.

"[[Mao Zedong|Mao]] thought he could eliminate [[religion]]. He thought he had accomplished this," Prof Yang said. "It's ironic – they didn't. They actually failed completely."<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10776023/China-on-course-to-become-worlds-most-Christian-nation-within-15-years.html China on course to become 'world's most Christian nation' within 15 years]</ref>}}

"[[Mao Zedong|Mao]] thought he could eliminate [[religion]]. He thought he had accomplished this," Prof Yang said. "It's ironic – they didn't. They actually failed completely."<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10776023/China-on-course-to-become-worlds-most-Christian-nation-within-15-years.html China on course to become 'world's most Christian nation' within 15 years]</ref>}}

{{Cquote|The notice, apparently issued in May 2011 by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, suggests ongoing misgivings among senior leaders that religion, and in particular Christianity, poses a direct challenge to the ruling party.

{{Cquote|The notice, apparently issued in May 2011 by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, suggests ongoing misgivings among senior leaders that religion, and in particular Christianity, poses a direct challenge to the ruling party.

Bob Fu, the founder of ChinaAid, the group which obtained and published the document, said the directive was proof China's central government was "directing a national crackdown against religious freedom especially targeting Christianity [in universities]".

Bob Fu, the founder of ChinaAid, the group that obtained and published the document, said the directive was proof China's central government was "directing a national crackdown against religious freedom especially targeting Christianity [in universities]".

Mr Fu claimed the document also indicated "panic" among Chinese intellectuals about the "rapid" growth of [China's] underground Christian population".

Mr Fu claimed the document also indicated "panic" among Chinese intellectuals about the "rapid" growth of [China's] underground Christian population".

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. If this occurs, the world will change beyond our capacity to recognize it...

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. If this occurs, the world will change beyond our capacity to recognize it...

China, devoured by hunger so many times in its history, now feels a spiritual hunger beneath the neon exterior of its suddenly great cities. Four hundred million Chinese on the prosperous coast have moved from poverty to affluence in a single generation, and 10 million to 15 million new migrants come from the countryside each year, the greatest movement of people in history. Despite a government stance that hovers somewhere between discouragement and persecution, more than 100 million of them have embraced a faith that regards this life as mere preparation for the next world. Given the immense effort the Chinese have devoted to achieving a tolerable life in the present world, this may seem anomalous. On the contrary: it is the great migration of peoples that prepares the ground for Christianity, just as it did during the barbarian invasions of Europe during the Middle Ages.

China, devoured by hunger so many times in its history, now feels a spiritual hunger beneath the neon exterior of its suddenly great cities. Four hundred million Chinese on the prosperous coast have moved from poverty to affluence in a single generation, and 10 million to 15 million new migrants come from the countryside each year, the greatest movement of people in history. Despite a government stance that hovers somewhere between discouragement and persecution, more than 100 million of them have embraced a faith that regards this life as mere preparation for the next world. Given the immense effort the Chinese have devoted to achieving a tolerable life in the present world, this may seem anomalous. On the contrary, it is the great migration of peoples that prepares the ground for Christianity, just as it did during the barbarian invasions of Europe during the Middle Ages.

<ref>[https://soundfaith.com/sermons/24469-christianity-finds-a-fulcrum-in-asia Christianity Finds a Fulcrum in Asia] by Justin Wood</ref>}}

<ref>[https://soundfaith.com/sermons/24469-christianity-finds-a-fulcrum-in-asia Christianity Finds a Fulcrum in Asia] by Justin Wood</ref>}}

{{cquote|A senior Chinese advisor on religious affairs has said the country should promote atheism throughout society, in remarks that appear to reflect a deepening campaign to reinforce traditional Marxist values in China — and could add to concern about official attitudes among believers in the country’s five officially recognized religions.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/senior-chinese-religious-advisor-calls-promotion-atheism-society-2363850 Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society], ''International Business Times''</ref>}}

{{cquote|A senior Chinese advisor on religious affairs has said the country should promote atheism throughout society, in remarks that appear to reflect a deepening campaign to reinforce traditional Marxist values in China — and could add to concern about official attitudes among believers in the country’s five officially recognized religions.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/senior-chinese-religious-advisor-calls-promotion-atheism-society-2363850 Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society], ''International Business Times''</ref>}}

There is growing persecution of Christians by the Chinese government.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/04/22/martyr-killed-by-bulldozer-becomes-symbol-growing-persecution-christians-in-china.html Martyr killed by bulldozer becomes symbol of growing persecution of Christians in China]</ref> Historically persecution has often been an ineffective means to stop the growth of Christianity in a region.<ref>[http://oprev.org/2011/07/persecution-does-it-help-or-hurt-church-growth/ Persecution: Does It Help or Hurt Church Growth?]</ref> Persecution and exponential Christian growth have frequently coincided. On the other hand, persecution often coincides with diminishing Christianity.<ref>[http://oprev.org/2011/07/persecution-does-it-help-or-hurt-church-growth/ Persecution: Does It Help or Hurt Church Growth?]</ref>   

There is growing persecution of Christians by the Chinese government.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/04/22/martyr-killed-by-bulldozer-becomes-symbol-growing-persecution-christians-in-china.html Martyr killed by bulldozer becomes symbol of growing persecution of Christians in China]</ref> Historically, persecution has often been an ineffective means to stop the growth of Christianity in a region.<ref>[http://oprev.org/2011/07/persecution-does-it-help-or-hurt-church-growth/ Persecution: Does It Help or Hurt Church Growth?]</ref> Persecution and exponential Christian growth have frequently coincided. On the other hand, persecution often coincides with diminishing Christianity.<ref>[http://oprev.org/2011/07/persecution-does-it-help-or-hurt-church-growth/ Persecution: Does It Help or Hurt Church Growth?]</ref>   

The historian Martin Van Crevel points out that sovereign states are losing power/influence due to technology democratizing access to information, welfare states increasingly failing, [[fourth-generation warfare]] being waged against countries and sovereign states increasingly losing their ability to maintain internal order.<ref>[http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/96spring/creveld.htm The Fate of the State] by MARTIN VAN CREVELD</ref><ref>[https://www.sonshi.com/martin-van-creveld-interview.html Martin van Creveld interview]</ref>

The historian Martin Van Crevel points out that sovereign states are losing power/influence due to technology democratizing access to information, welfare states increasingly failing, [[fourth-generation warfare]] being waged against countries and sovereign states increasingly losing their ability to maintain internal order.<ref>[http://strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/96spring/creveld.htm The Fate of the State] by MARTIN VAN CREVELD</ref><ref>[https://www.sonshi.com/martin-van-creveld-interview.html Martin van Creveld interview]</ref>

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).

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.   

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 echelons of Chinese society which is presently happening.   

A review of his book declares and please note the bold font added for emphasis which indicates the Chinese Christians are generally not Darwinists:

A review of his book declares and please note the bold font added for emphasis which indicates the Chinese Christians are generally not Darwinists: