Which God Saves? → Christianity

Religion and the law. Are we protecting laws from religion?

Protecting laws from religion? Management of religious affairs is about protecting what is lawful. That last sentence is the English translation of something from China’s Religious Affairs Regulations. But does that even make sense? China claims their citizens have freedom of religious belief. So shouldn’t laws about religion be concerned with protecting those religions?

What’s this thing about protecting the law from religion? It sounds so backwards. And yet, is it even unusual? We claim to have religious freedom in the U.S. So do many countries. But are we really doing anything different than China? In other words, is the real issue that China isn’t hiding what they’re doing? Let’s find out.

Religion and the law. Are we protecting laws from religion? Read More »

Chinese citizens have the freedom of religious belief

Citizens have freedom of religious belief?

General religion topics in China

Citizens have freedom of religious belief. That’s the English translation of something from China’s Religious Affairs Regulations. But is it really true?

Remember, China is a Communist country. And an officially atheist one as well. We must be forgiven if we doubt those fine-sounding words. Especially after reading part 1 of this series.

Remember, Article 1 of these regulations included the text, “increase the level of legalification in work on religion” as one of the stated goals for putting them into law. How does that even make sense?

Citizens have freedom of religious belief? Read More »

Christians – are you afraid of politicians?

Politics and religion

Christians – are you afraid of politicians? Donald Trump seems to think you are. Or at least hope you are. But really, the question is deeper than that.

But first, let’s get into why the question even comes up. It’s because of an article from Politico, titled‘Dangerous levels of contempt’: Trump deploys a convention to attack Dems on religion. A short excerpt will shed light on what’s happening.

Christians – are you afraid of politicians? Read More »

Christians – how do you treat women?

Politics and religion

Christians – how do you treat women? I don’t address this just to men, but to women as well. We often say the “right things”. But when it comes right down to it, do we do what we say? Or do we live by the old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do”? There are so many reasons to ask this question. But the thing that has me asking today is two things I read in the news.

Both have to do with our President. It seems when Trump open a hand to offer an olive branch, he just can’t help using that hand to slap someone. In this case, Susan B. Anthony was the olive branch. The slap was to Michelle Obama and, oddly enough, Susan B. Anthony.

And so, the question has to do with whether or not we live up to what we claim to believe. Do we find that kind of behavior acceptable? Is it even normal? And if we agree it’s not, why does it still seem to be acceptable for this president? What kind of precedent does he set and what kind of message do we send when we silently support it?

Christians – how do you treat women? Read More »

Which god will win the election?

Politics and religion

Which god will win the election in the U.S.? The god of power? Maybe the god of greed? How about the god of white power? Or the god of me first? What about the chance for the god of caring about other people? Have you noticed, there’s really only two choices there? I’m not even going to say it’s between Republicans and Democrats. It’s between Trump and Biden. Or is that between Trump and not Trump?

Notice that I didn’t capitalize god either. Because it’s not directly about God. Both sides want us to believe they have God on their side. But then, it’s really more about wanting us to believe that, rather than either party being particularly Godly. However, one does appear to more more god-like, in the same way Roman emperors were gods.

Because of these things, and more, the question of which god will win the election is very real.

Which god will win the election? Read More »

Religious freedom in China

General religion topics in China

To some, the idea of religious freedom in China sounds like an oxymoron. You know – a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Given that China is an officially atheist country, “religion” in China certainly isn’t what people in the so-called west expect. Further, the concept of freedom of religion in an atheist country like China is, if it’s possible, even more of an oxymoron.

And yet …

View post to subscribe to site newsletter.

Religious freedom in China Read More »

Is this a bit of Hell on earth?

Just a quick thought, Politics and religion

But somehow, like the serpent convincing Adam and Eve they wouldn’t die, Trump continues to convince too many Christians that he’s good for us. However, I can’t help but wonder, is he telling us that if we follow him, we won’t surely die? And as I show in The Problem of Free Will, the Hebrew says “die die”. As in die physically, and die spiritually. Depart from this earth. Go to Hell.

Is this a bit of Hell on earth? Read More »

Is the Hong Kong Security Law the end of Christianity in Hong Kong?

Religion in Hong Kong

Are we at the beginning of the end of Christianity in Hong Kong? A while back, I started to write about new religious regulations in China. Mainland China, with the atheist Communist government. But it got side-tracked by everything else going on in the world and here in the U.S. However, I think it’s time to not only bring it back, but to emphasize it even more. The new Hong Kong Security Law makes it imperative.

When I began to write about the Chinese religious regulations, I pointed out that they are essentially a blueprint for other countries to follow. Well, China may very well be following them, although in a somewhat hidden fashion, with the Hong Kong Security Law. Given the “one world religion” foretold in the Bible, I expect this kind of thing to spread literally world-wide. That’s why it’s so important for us – Christians – to understand.

Is the Hong Kong Security Law the end of Christianity in Hong Kong? Read More »

What is the conservative Christian view of DACA?

Politics and religion

What is the conservative Christian view of DACA? DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. I don’t mean conservative Christians as a group. I mean each and every individual who considers themselves Christian, especially the conservatives. What is your stance? And, how do you feel about the leaders you support – both politically and within your church organization?

What is the conservative Christian view of DACA? Read More »

Where are the peacemakers?

Are we nearing The End Times?, Signs of things to come

Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. But where are the peacemakers? In Isaiah, God asked who He should send, and one person said, Here I am! Send me! Where is that person today? Is there really no one willing to be God’s messenger today? Are there really no sons of God left? It appears that the answer to both is a resounding NO! Jesus can ask, who will speak for me. But no one’s answering. Like an ostrich with its head in the sand, we can’t hear.

Where are the peacemakers? Read More »