Flumesday.com - China Church Chat 2/7/07

    In October, I launched this infrequent and irreverent column chronicling the religious issues facing perhaps the most unreligious country in the world. I wanted to delve deeper into the topics important to China's religious community. But more than this, quite simply, I really like the depiction of the Chinese Jesus (above). Well, more than three months after the first column on religious persecution and underground religion, I am proud to offer you the second installment of "China Church Chat". And today, god willing, we will discuss the true level of religiosity in the Middle Kingdom.
    Wednesday, Chinese media released the findings of a recent East China Normal University study on the prevalence of religion in China. For years, the Chinese government has estimated that the number of people who engage in religious activities in China is around 100 million, roughly 10% of China's population over 16 years of age. However, the recent study found that a startling 300 million people, 30% of Chinese adults consider themselves to be religious.
    While a rise in Christianity is commonly believed to be the reason for the overall growth of China's religiosity, the study found that in mainland China, the traditional Chinese religions-- Buddhism, Taoism and the intellectual pursuit of Confucianism-- are so hot right now for the Chinese. The folk religions in China are also enjoying increased participation such as the followers of the Dragon King, the Jade Emporor and the God of Fortune. Approximately 200 million of the 300 million self-described believers are followers of one of these Chinese religions. The Dragon King?
    Another 40 million of China's religious believe that Jesus Christ is their lord and savior. And many estimate this number to be much greater as persecution and harassment has driven many of China's Christians underground. Christianity has seen the sharpest rise of any of the major religions in China partly because of the government's relaxation of rules governing its practice and partly because in this cruel world of religious intolerance, Christianity is an attractive option.
    Then there's the Muslims who make up about half of the remaining 60 million religious Chinese. And I guess the remaining 30 million is a hodgepodge of the lesser-known faiths-- the Jews, the Hindus, followers of Gozer the Gozerian-- and all those Chinese who responded to the survey that they were religious but do not subscribe to a particular religion. You know those people. The "I believe in a higher being" types.
    The great mystery of China's religious revival is not how many people have caught the religious fever but rather, why now has God made such a strong comeback in China? And there is no good answer. Is it a product of a society steeped in superstition? Is it a result of a nation finally open to the ways of the West? Or maybe just maybe, the level of religiosity has remained unchanged and the only thing that has changed is the degree to which Chinese outwardly practice.
    And wonders like these are what make each day more glorious than the last. Until next time Flumesday readers, zai jian. And god bless.

•China Daily: Religious Believers Thrice the Official Estimate