OK this is getting more to the issue. Can we say: "Superstition is not logical, relational, a choice on our part, and thought-out?
Upvote
0
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
OK this is getting more to the issue. Can we say: "Superstition is not logical, relational, a choice on our part, and thought-out?Being Superstitious describes a belief in chance or magic
Christians have an actual personal relationship with the Lord (our creator) and that relationship isn't by chance or magic, the relationship is developed over time. It is a conscience decision made by a person ... not happen-chance.
For the most part they are further along than that already. They do not trust communism and already feel the need for something greater than what this world has to offer. They do not want their religion to be their work (which the government would like them to believe).My understanding of China is that they are an atheistic culture, so any form of belief in the supernatural would be viewed as superstitious. I would recommend that you poke some holes in their materialism; the world is much stranger and more wonderful than they know. Talk about the evidence for the resurrection of Christ, evidence for miracles, etc. Materialism is an ideology of nihilism, they just haven't realized it yet, and they haven't realized that to be human means to be spiritual and not just physical. We have spiritual needs and are capable of experiencing spiritual realities.
I used to think practices such as blessings, holy water, or crucifixes were just a form of superstition within Christianity. I later realized that these things were ways God works through the physical. We live in a world of wonders, and once they realize it, they will be much more open to Christ. When your philosophy is materialism, there is a black void behind everything you do; show them that void in their ideology. If you're successful, they'll realize the implications of their underlying beliefs, and actually want something more.
How?Keeping in mind the Oversea Chinese Missionary Movement of the early 1900’s before the Japanese invasion might offer some insight as well.
hahaha let me count the ways. I’m getting behind on my day tho. I’ll post later.How?
We are going through Luke.Well, I'd want to notice the attitude of the person I'm talking to, before responding. I could imagine a sincere attitude as one possible one (instead of cynical or mocking). If sincerely stated, the person may honestly believe (not just a rhetorical attack) that Christians are maybe just superstitious people.
In that case, you have a chance, with such a sincere person, to tell them a more real thing. I'd want to give them a powerful hint of how wonderful the things Christ said are, so that they might go and read more for themselves. Depending on the person, there are a variety of ways that could sound, and so this is only one of a great many possibilities:
"Aren't Christians really just superstitious?" [if asked sincerely]
One answer: "It could seem that way from a distance, and some in any city probably are. But what motivates most Christians is instead that they want to learn more from the Teacher who said such things as "Love your neighbor as yourself", and even said "Love your enemy" -- they want more of what He has to teach, and there is very much more. That's why Christianity is so popular around the world through the centuries, in any nation where people hear some of it. "
Here we've recognized the partial truth in their point of view, but also given them a strong hint of the actual reality, and even better, some of the actual Word of Christ.
Key thing: the actual Word is always better than any representation or partial paraphrase of some bit.
Some areas are severely persecuting Christians, but that might help the growth and not slow it up.China has roots in Marxist atheism. In 2018 they blew up a megachurch building. They have been arresting and torturing Christians. They suspended Communist party elections as Xi became a dictator.
God is truth, not superstition.
Are they ESL students and your using the bible to teach them English?We are going through Luke.
They are sincere and they feel their friends are sincere, they do not know enough to be hypocritical about it.
What is the contrast between being superstitious and being a Christian?
OK this is getting more to the issue. Can we say: "Superstition is not logical, relational, a choice on our part, and thought-out?
The students I am teaching are looking for the truth and know little of Christianity. Most Chinese just write Christianity off as being a superstition, so followers are just superstitious people, not logical, fearful and ignorant.
Albion, I said "some", not all, not most. And I have seen it, as well as been foolish in that way myself when I was a new believer. My comment is credible.No, "they" don't.
Let's keep this point you are making in the realm of what's credible.
Why going through Luke? Is it a class about Christianity?We are going through Luke.
They are sincere and they feel their friends are sincere, they do not know enough to be hypocritical about it.
What is the contrast between being superstitious and being a Christian?
I teach Chinese Students in Dallas Universities and they say: one of the criticisms they hear in China about Christians is “Christians are superstitious”, so what would be a good come back answer to that comment?
so what should the spiritually strong say to these and/or the nonbelievers if anything?
Sure. Like I said, present the evidence for miracles and for the resurrection of Christ; give them some good reason to believe that Christianity might be true.For the most part they are further along than that already. They do not trust communism and already feel the need for something greater than what this world has to offer. They do not want their religion to be their work (which the government would like them to believe).
You got me thinking, can we say: being superstitious is not logical while being a Christian is logical?
Actually, most will educated Chinese know the government is misleading them. On the coast few admit to being members of the party and those that do are looked down upon. The whole cultural revolution is a black eye for the communist party.I was under the impression that Chinese propaganda is that all religion is superstition. So undoing that propaganda is probably going to be difficult, since it involves putting forward the counter-point that the Chinese government is engaged in brainwashing the Chinese people.
The Chinese government has been actively targeting Uyghurs in Western China, imprisoning and effectively targeting them purely on the basis of their ethnicity. The Uyghurs of Western China are predominantly Muslim, but the Chinese propaganda machine calls them all terrorists, even though they are being targeted because of their ethnicity.
The Chinese government has been accusing the Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors and demonstrators "terrorists" as well. And that narrative has been pretty successful in convincing a majority of the mainland Chinese population of that falsehood.
As such, convincing some students that their government has been actively lying to them their entire life isn't exactly going to be an easy task.
-CryptoLutheran
I have taught Chinese students before and this idea did not come up, but that just showed my ignorance.Never heard that before. Well my wife is 1st Gen Chinese and I've DUH been round allot and some from there and they never said a word about Christianity. Unless it was after I left and "hes just superstitious"
I did come across this "Chinese state mouthpiece links ‘superstitious’ religious practices to string of Communist Party corruption scandals".
My students understanding is not a problem since we will study together for a long time, but it is how they approach their friends and family.One possible response might be to agree with your students. If there are Christians who treat their bibles or crosses as good luck charms, then they are a bit superstitious. You can explain that the function of the scriptures and the symbol of the cross is not "good luck," but Christ.
Responding this way opens the door for you to share a more robust understanding of our faith, the One in whom we have faith, the scriptures, and so on.
some could be two people so how can you speak for everyone?No, "they" don't.
Let's keep this point you are making in the realm of what's credible.
Yes, I do friendspeak but do not like the book and only use scripture, but I have others who want more Bible and we do Bible lessons.Are they ESL students and your using the bible to teach them English?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?