China's "official" churches (those operating under the auspices of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement) are fairly often associated with terms such as "restrictive," "government-sanctioned," or even "Communist-controlled." Granted, one does not have to look too far within China's religious bureaucracy and its associated policies and practices to find evidence that would justify such notions. Unfortunately, however, the perception of the official church which these labels create tends to mask much of what is actually happening on the ground in TSPM-affiliated churches.
Brent Fulton
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January 27, 2014
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Ideas
Let's call it "video week" at ZGB because my top picks this week are all video reports on some fairly pressing contemporary social issues, each of them ripples of China's one-child policy.
Joann Pittman
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January 24, 2014
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Resources
For the Winter Issue of the ChinaSource Quarterly, which focused on the issue of religious policies in China and the relationship between the church and the state, ChinaSource conducted an interview with a Three-Self pastor in China. Below is the article/interview in its entirety.
ChinaSource Team
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Stories
I'm already two weeks into my current episode of jet lag, so I know there is no excuse. However, I still find myself waking up in the morning and wondering, "What day is this anyway?"
Brent Fulton
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January 23, 2014
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Stories
Thirty years ago, I set off for what I thought would be a one-year teaching stint in China. Twenty-eight years later, I moved back to the States. Either I'm really bad at math or that was one very long year.
Joann Pittman
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January 22, 2014
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Ideas
An article that appeared last month in China's official press raises interesting questions about how the church in China is viewed by both the Chinese state and society.
Brent Fulton
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January 21, 2014
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Stories
These three articles caught my attention while compiling ZGBriefs this week.
Joann Pittman
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January 18, 2014
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Resources
Over the years many foreign faith-based entities have made what might best be described as a "survey trip" to China. The purpose is ostensibly to understand what is happening on the ground and to discern whether, and how, their particular organization could begin a China work.
Brent Fulton
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January 16, 2014
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Ideas
The church in China is often viewed through two prevailing and related paradigms. The "persecuted church" paradigm positions the church and the Chinese government in perpetual opposition to one another, while the "Christian China" paradigm sees Christianity as bringing a new moral order to China and foresees the day when the church will usher in political change.
Brent Fulton
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January 15, 2014
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Ideas
This article looks at a few key events in the life of Victor Plymire, a pioneer missionary to Tibet in the early 20th century. My prayer is that this brief glimpse into his life will enlarge your view of God so that your faith would be strengthened and you might pursue God with renewed determination. Additionally, I hope that you would see the tremendous value of history and biography for the Christian life and the Church universal.
Mark Totman
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January 13, 2014
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Stories
This week's must-read stories from the editor of ZGBriefs
Joann Pittman
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January 11, 2014
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Resources
The new year is upon us, and McKinsey China has come out with a new set of predictions for 2014. A key theme running through these predictions is a significantly changing labor market, particularly as a result of advances in technology and the way it is being utilized both in the workplace and by consumers.
Brent Fulton
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Ideas