Being engaged in a Chinese language exchange community, I posted a question for the Chinese members to answer: 'How do Chinese people view Christianity?'
In a span of one hour, eight people who are all Chinese living in mainland China responded with varying answers.
"Mostly, the Chinese are not followers. Although many people impose themselves as followers. They just anchor their hope on somebody, God included." A member named Xie said, adding, "Certainly, there are devout followers."
Fen, another member said that, "Every belief has a reason for existing and should be respected; and Christianity is also acceptable to me."
In a short dialogue with another member, he said that, "I do not trust religion. I only trust grandpa Mao." I asked if he was referring to Mao Tse-tung and he answered, "That is him, but I cannot address his name. I want to respect him, so I call him grandpa Mao."
Mao Tse-tung was the founding father of the People's Republic of China, which he governed as the Chairman of the Communist Party of China from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. His Marxist-Leninist theories, military strategies, and political policies are collectively known as Maoism.
And then, I encountered another member who shared her views saying, "I think it depends on the people. For most Chinese people, we do not have the idea of Christianity because from [childhood], we do not have this kind this education and no information to pass on. From my personal view, it is good sometimes."
She proceeds to talk about a Christian friend. "I have a very good friend. She has a very complex background. She was born in North Korea and her father is Chinese. When she was 22 years old, the whole family decided to move back to China because of a policy to choose to move back or to stay in North Korea. When she came to China, she didn't speak Chinese, so she wasn't able to communicate with her relatives. In that very difficult period, she found religion to help her and it was Christianity. She's the person I know who can control herself very well. That's a very good example for that religion to influence people."
Another answer is that Christianity is "a belief that rescues people."
Another said that the only thing they know about it is what is written in the books, adding that, "Chinese [people] don't profess a religion."
One responder said that her belief is in money and not in any kind of religion.
