The Olympic competition for souls

1877146370_f0dc2c9bf8%282%29.jpgThe Olympic athletes coming to Beijing in August might not be the only ones competing at the Games. Many Christian missionary groups are salivating at the opportunity to compete for all those heathen souls in the Orient. As FaithWorld blogs reports:

Doing covert missionary work in difficult areas — usually Muslim countries— is a challenge some Christian groups relish.
James Catford of the UK's Bible Society said in a statement,
This great sporting event presents a unique opportunity to make the life-changing message of the Bible available to thousands of athletes and visitors from all over China-– and all over the world.

While missionaries gear up for the opportunity, it remains to be seen if they'll be let anywhere near China's coveted souls. The central government was less than accommodating to any suspicious Sichuan earthquake aid workers who might proselytize, and Chinese authorities have already taken several legislative measures to ensure a flawless Olympics. However, the recent news that Bibles have been made available to athletes at the Olympics has heartened many Christian organizations.

Photo by Patricia Soransso.

Email This Entry


Comments (2) [rss]

user-pic

"In every country and every age, the priest has been hostile to Liberty." --Thomas Jefferson

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the Word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind." -- Thomas Paine: The Age of Reason, 1794 "Examination of the Old Testament"

"Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated." --George Washington

oh no... they are gonna make the situation for gay people living in China even more difficult...

some "life-changing message of the Bible" only makes gay people's life worse. Can't they just leave China alone?

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Personals

Enter our FREE personals site!

Tips

About Shanghaiist

Shanghaiist is a website about Shanghai, China.

Editor: Elaine Chow
Founding Editor: Dan Washburn
Publisher: Gothamist

About | Advertising | Archives | Arts/Entertainment | Calendar | Contact | Contribute | Facebook | Favorites | Feedburner | Food/Drink | Jobs | Mobile | News | Other | Personals | Popular | RSS | Staff | Top Users | Twitter | Write For Us


Shanghaiist Direct

Too busy to check the site? Receive a daily email with links to all Shanghaiist posts from the previous 24 hours.

Enter your email


Recent Comments

Contribute

Latest Tip:

Do you guys now anything about the mysterious explosion last night? http://twitter.com/michetravi/st
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Shanghaiist.

All Our RSS