Very well then, Breetai, if you so insist...
"I think the PRC "lacks the Holy Spirit" and "needs the gospel of Jesus Christ" as much as American lack confucian values and in need of preaching of the analect."
I partially agree. I while I believe every faith ought to be tought, propagated, proselitysed, etc., I'd place preach in another category altogether. Teaching requires a willing pupil. Propagation requires willing adherents, and proselitism doesn't necessarily need to be direct or explicit. Preaching, on the other hand, is direct and explicit by nature, doesn't require a willing pupil as it implies one person being talked to by the other, and, unlike preselitism, does imply aggressiveness. Perhaps we can define 'preaching' as 'aggressive procelitism'. As for the west needing the teachings of Confucius as much as the east needs the teachings of Christ, I fully agree. I've read both the Analects and teh Gospels, and I can say that the spiritual teachings of both are identical. So from that perspective, it would seem to me that to lack the spiritual teachings of one automatically imply lacking the spiritual teachings of the other. Although I'm a Baha'i, I've read the Bible, the Qur'an adn the Analects. I also have a Bhagavadgita and have read the Dao De Qing as well. I do believe that if we want to live in a peaceful world, we definitely need to better understand one another's religions and not be so condescending towards others.
" Like any other civilization, PRC China has its cycle of rise and fall, both in terms of internal economy and international relations. However, Chinese did not run amock in the last 4000 years, or at least, it had civilization, order and stability, and Chinese people have lived with morality and ethic long before missionaries brought in christianity along with colonialism."
If I'm not mystaken, the last Chinese civilization came about thanks to the teachings of Confucius, before which the land was wrought with corruption. So I think we definitely ought to repect his wisdom without a doubt.
"As an ethnic Chinese and a PRC citizenship holder, I will state my opinion that my country and my people do not need Christianity, nor is it an issue that we "lack holy spirit." We do, however, open our door and allow some degree of exchange of thoughts, cultures, and beliefs. "
China is not a free society; even non religious fictions are under censorship of the government. But, despite it not being a free society, christians and catholic missionaries can enter and "spread the gospel," this fact tells a lot about the myth of Christian persecution."
Well, while I might be under monitor (though I can't confirm this for certain), and while I might feel that my lack of freedom of religious organization might be a little suffocating at times, I must say that I have complete personal freedom of religion (as per PRC law). And while I might not agree with the laws relating to religious organization, I can fully understand them. After all, if Canada had suffered two Opium Wars with some using religion as pretext, I'm sure Canada today would be more than a little wary of religious organization too. China is still licking historical wounds, and this takes time. And as I'd mentionned before, I'm totally free to procelitize in a non-aggressive manner.
"Even ESL teachers, volunteer child and youth educators and University visiting professors from the west (and internally) are under monitor. Deal with it, it's just the way Chinese society runs. We all live in surveillance society, it's just more obvious in China than it is in the West."
If I'm monitored, I don't notice it, I must say.
"A friend of mine is teaching English in interior China to young school children, he tries to encourage the children to ask more question and be more willing to challenge superior, he got numerous warning and his mails have been censored ever since."
Ah, now I understand. Certainly if you come here to to play partisan politics, then sure you'll be monitored. He deserves it. No simpathy here.
"There is nothing religious in his message, it's just that China is a society that maintain social order through control of discourse. If you cannot live with that, you probably should choose a different country for your mission."
From my experience, respect the law, keep your nose out of politics, and don't engage in agressive procelitism (i.e., preaching) and you'll be fine."
There were times in recent past when missionaries are being deported, without any regard for their intent or activities in the country -- they were being deported ALONG WITH all westerners that were there to exploit China's resources and control China's industrialization during colonization period. These people were deported precisely because they entered China to be imperialist, to impose their way of life, their beliefs, their law etc on Chinese. Deporting them and barring them out of our country is our way of saying that we have finally stand up to the bullies and regained autonomy over our country."
Again, China is still healing form the Opium Wars (even the british newspapers of the time were disgusted at the behaviour of the westerners of the time who were trying to force open China's opium trade, which China wanted to ban, while England itself had banned the substance!), and so it's only natural that westerners, including myself, in China, ought to be a litle humble and not present ourselves as being superior in any way.
"If more westerners are to enter PRC with the mindset that "Chinese need more of our cultural beliefs and religions," I sure hope the government would tighten the control over religious-imperialism."
From what I've seen in the last few years, the Chinese government has been loosening its hold on religion lately. But again, you're right. If some groups decide to exploit this kindness on the part of the Chinese government (and believe me, many among the general population agrees with the government on this one), then certainly there is the risk that the government could suddenly clamp down again.
"I sincerely hope that we will learn from history, and more specifically, learn from our historical mistakes. You can impose ideas and beliefs and values on others, in their land, and the result is often resentment and defensiveness."
Hmmm. I can't find a disagreement here.
"China is fine without Christianity. So please, if you want to enter, at least check your ego at the door and entertain the possibility that maybe Chinese culture itself is no less worthy than the Western heritage of monotheism and enlightenment.
