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| | Koning noted that there was a rapid expansion of charismatic Christianity from the 1980s onwards. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia are said to have the fastest-growing Christian communities and the majority of the new believers are “upwardly mobile, urban, middle-class Chinese”. Asia has the second largest Pentecostal-charismatic Christians of any continent, with the number growing from 10 million to 135 million between 1970 and 2000.<ref>[https://www.smu.edu.sg/perspectives/2012/06/26/understanding-rapid-rise-charismatic-christianity-southeast-asia UNDERSTANDING THE RAPID RISE OF CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA], Singapore Management University, 2010</ref>}} | | Koning noted that there was a rapid expansion of charismatic Christianity from the 1980s onwards. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia are said to have the fastest-growing Christian communities and the majority of the new believers are “upwardly mobile, urban, middle-class Chinese”. Asia has the second largest Pentecostal-charismatic Christians of any continent, with the number growing from 10 million to 135 million between 1970 and 2000.<ref>[https://www.smu.edu.sg/perspectives/2012/06/26/understanding-rapid-rise-charismatic-christianity-southeast-asia UNDERSTANDING THE RAPID RISE OF CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA], Singapore Management University, 2010</ref>}} |
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| − | == China, state atheism and persecution ==
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| − | ''See also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Communism and religious persecution]]
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| − | [[Communism|Communist]] countries practice [[state atheism]] (See: [[Atheism and communism]]).
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| − | [[File:Flag of the PRC.png|thumbnail|200px|right|In 1955, [[China|Chinese]] communist leader Zhou Enlai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref> In 2015, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/china-communist-party-atheism-zhejiang-ban-religious-members-christianity_n_6599722.html China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism]</ref>]]
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| − | In 1955, [[China|Chinese]] communist leader Zhou Enlai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref> In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref>
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| − | *[http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], ''New American'', 2014
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| − | *[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/china-communist-party-atheism-zhejiang-ban-religious-members-christianity_n_6599722.html China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism]</ref>
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| − | In 2016, the ''International Business Times'' reported:
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| − | {{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>}}
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| − | There is growing persecution of Christians by the Chinese government.<ref>[http://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>
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| − | 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>
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| | == Chinese Christians and plans for evangelism outside of China == | | == Chinese Christians and plans for evangelism outside of China == |