Chinese faithful prepare for Xmas
Source: Xinhua |
December 24, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ALTHOUGH Christmas is not a significant festival for ordinary middle-aged Chinese, Cui Shaoqi has been filled with hustle and bustle as the day draws near.
Cui, along with others, has just built a manger outside a church, showcasing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth.
Cui, in his 50's, is a Christian and a staff member of the Beijing South Cathedral, the oldest Catholic Church in the Chinese capital. Like other churches, the cathedral has been decorated with Christmas trees and festive lanterns to celebrate Christmas.
"We are trying to show how and where Christmas originated by using the settings," Cui said.
As Christmas falls on the weekend this year, he believes many visitors would throng the church.
Apart from Mass on Christmas Eve at church, some Christians plan to attract visitors with other performances, such as folk dance.
"After the performances we will preach, so as to let them better understand our religion," said Li Hua, the pastor of the Beijing Chongwenmen Church, the first American Methodist church and the largest existing Protestant church in Beijing.
Beijing Chongwenmen Church has asked Christians to give their seats to non-believers so that they can learn about Jesus and Christianity during Christmas. "With this opportunity, we hope to persuade more people to convert to Christianity," Li said.
According to a report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the first documented case of Christianity entering China was in the seventh century. China now has about 23 million Christians, roughly 1.8 percent of its population.
To many people, the religion is a route to finding peace in their lives.
"I thought God was a kind of Jade Emperor in Chinese myths, and they were both superstitions in my childhood. But when I became aware of Christianity, I found it was no superstition at all," said Yu Longsheng, a student at Xiamen University.
"It brings me out of my loneliness, pressure and nerves. Now, I am a college student and I believe in God."
Besides Christians, China has over 100 million other believers, such as in Buddhism, Taoism and Islam, according to the State Administration for Religious Affairs.
Cui, along with others, has just built a manger outside a church, showcasing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth.
Cui, in his 50's, is a Christian and a staff member of the Beijing South Cathedral, the oldest Catholic Church in the Chinese capital. Like other churches, the cathedral has been decorated with Christmas trees and festive lanterns to celebrate Christmas.
"We are trying to show how and where Christmas originated by using the settings," Cui said.
As Christmas falls on the weekend this year, he believes many visitors would throng the church.
Apart from Mass on Christmas Eve at church, some Christians plan to attract visitors with other performances, such as folk dance.
"After the performances we will preach, so as to let them better understand our religion," said Li Hua, the pastor of the Beijing Chongwenmen Church, the first American Methodist church and the largest existing Protestant church in Beijing.
Beijing Chongwenmen Church has asked Christians to give their seats to non-believers so that they can learn about Jesus and Christianity during Christmas. "With this opportunity, we hope to persuade more people to convert to Christianity," Li said.
According to a report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the first documented case of Christianity entering China was in the seventh century. China now has about 23 million Christians, roughly 1.8 percent of its population.
To many people, the religion is a route to finding peace in their lives.
"I thought God was a kind of Jade Emperor in Chinese myths, and they were both superstitions in my childhood. But when I became aware of Christianity, I found it was no superstition at all," said Yu Longsheng, a student at Xiamen University.
"It brings me out of my loneliness, pressure and nerves. Now, I am a college student and I believe in God."
Besides Christians, China has over 100 million other believers, such as in Buddhism, Taoism and Islam, according to the State Administration for Religious Affairs.
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