China to rewrite the Bible and the Quran to further Sinicize religion

[AsianActivist]

[URL="http://www.tibetanreview.net/china-to-rewrite-the-bible-and-the-quran-to-further-sinicize-religion"]China to rewrite the Bible and the Quran to further Sinicize religion | Tibetan Review[/URL]

China has called for a “comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times” and it has been understood to mean that the Bible and the Quran should be rewritten by “re-translation”. The order was issued during a meeting in Nov 2019, reported dailymail.co.uk Dec 24.

The order was given in November during a meeting held by the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which oversees the ethnic and religious matters in China, the report said.​

 

[oldbadger]

Fair enough.
Why not?

 

[Good-Ole-Rebel]

I have always expected something like this to occur at some date. This is why I have always encouraged Christians to go out now, and buy enough Bibles for you to last your life time, no matter where you live.

Good-Ole-Rebel

 

[Spirit of Light]

China to rewrite the Bible and the Quran to further Sinicize religion | Tibetan Review

China has called for a “comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times” and it has been understood to mean that the Bible and the Quran should be rewritten by “re-translation”. The order was issued during a meeting in Nov 2019, reported dailymail.co.uk Dec 24.

The order was given in November during a meeting held by the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which oversees the ethnic and religious matters in China, the report said.​

This is the evil work of the Chinese Communist Party. CCP has to be stopped in their evil act toward all spiritual practice.

 

[Laika]

Fair enough.
Why not?

They’re trying to write them in accordance with the official ideology of the communist party to stamp out “extreme thoughts” and “heretical ideas”.

This kind of ideological supervision establishes the power of the party over religious denominations rather than allowing independent religious practice. The Soviets tried it so that the Church was more “party friendly”: Renovationism - Wikipedia

Imagine changing the sermon on the mount to:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall work towards socialist construction,
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall reign down thermonuclear fire upon their enemies,
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth after the party has finished with it...”

...and you can see why this could be a problem. They might be more subtle but “the party works in mysterious ways” so who knows.

This is slightly better than burning the bible or the Quran but its a corruption of the texts meaning (admittedly after centuries of continuous reinterpretation by various sects).

I wouldn’t call it evil (as others have done), but its cynical as hell as a mode of thought control.

 

[oldbadger]

They’re trying to write them in accordance with the official ideology of the communist party to stamp out “extreme thoughts” and “heretical ideas”.

This kind of ideological supervision establishes the power of the party over religious denominations rather than allowing independent religious practice. The Soviets tried it so that the Church was more “party friendly”: Renovationism - Wikipedia

Imagine changing the sermon on the mount to:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall work towards socialist construction,
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall reign down thermonuclear fire upon their enemies,
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth after the party has finished with it...”

...and you can see why this could be a problem. They might be more subtle but “the party works in mysterious ways” so who knows.

This is slightly better than burning the bible or the Quran but its a corruption of the texts meaning (admittedly after centuries of continuous reinterpretation by various sects).

I wouldn’t call it evil (as others have done), but its cynical as hell as a mode of thought control.

Maybe they think that existing translations, complete with Christian additions and manipulations, are junk?

And you cannot presume what their findings will be, methinks. You mention 'raining down nuclear weapons', in your post, well, you'd be surprised about how more extreme fundie Christians would love to rain down nuclear devices, upon places such as Mecca and Medina.

No..... let's see how the Chinese translations emerge, eh?

 

[ChristineM]

China to rewrite the Bible and the Quran to further Sinicize religion | Tibetan Review

China has called for a “comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times” and it has been understood to mean that the Bible and the Quran should be rewritten by “re-translation”. The order was issued during a meeting in Nov 2019, reported dailymail.co.uk Dec 24.

The order was given in November during a meeting held by the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which oversees the ethnic and religious matters in China, the report said.​

The bible has already been rewritten many times, there are currently hundreds of versions, each subtly different (and tens of thousands of christian sects each interpretating the particularly version of the bible they prefer in whatever way suites their sensibilities). I don't think one more will make much difference to Christianity. All it means is one more sect to add to the number that is increasing weekly anyway.

 

[SigurdReginson]

I'm not sure if this is the case anymore, but when I was younger it was dangerous for people in China to openly practice Christianity. Many had to practice their religion in hiding.

I remember when the pastor of a church I went to as a kid tried to smuggle bibles into China. He put them in a briefcase. When he arrived in China, their version of the TSA searched his briefcase and confiscated all his bibles. They let him into the country where he then proceded to try and find the underground church hidden in the city he was staying in.

He found them, but he was mortified to find that the people there were meowing and barking during worship, and that they had incorporated traditional Chinese spiritual practices into their church services. He came back from that trip a very disappointed and disgruntled man, and referred to the underground Christians living there as "those misguided pagans."

In retrospect, I appreciate the utter contempt and condescension that drizzled out of his mouth when referring to the people who let him into their home as a guest to stay (for free) at great risk to themselves.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I'm not sure if this is the case anymore, but when I was younger it was dangerous for people in China to openly practice Christianity. Many had to practice their religion in hiding.

I remember when the pastor of a church I went to as a kid tried to smuggle bibles into China. He put them in a briefcase. When he arrived in China, their version of the TSA searched his briefcase and confiscated all his bibles. They let him into the country where he then proceded to try and find the underground church hidden in the city he was staying in.

He found them, but he was mortified to find that the people there were meowing and barking during worship, and that they had incorporated traditional Chinese spiritual practices into their church services. He came back from that trip a very disappointed and disgruntled man, and referred to the underground Christians living there as "those misguided pagans."

In retrospect, I appreciate the utter contempt and condescension that drizzled out of his mouth when referring to the people who let him into their home as a guest to stay (for free) at great risk to themselves.

Unfortunately, all form of spiritual practice has been and still are in some form persecuted within mainland China, but also for some spiritual practitioners outside mainland China are persecuted by Chinese CCP. CCP are also persecuting Buddhists within Tibet.
Falun Gong practitioners have since 1999 until today been persecuted mostly every day within mainland China. But as you say yes Christians are also persecuted there.

 

[Stevicus]

Imagine changing the sermon on the mount to:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall work towards socialist construction,
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall reign down thermonuclear fire upon their enemies,
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth after the party has finished with it...”

Or maybe the Ten Commandments:

1. We are the Communist Party. Thou shalt have no other parties before us.
2. Thou shalt not make any images on the graves of the enemies of the people.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Communist Party in vain
4. Remember the Party holidays
5. Thou shalt honor thy Party Chairman and General Secretary
6. Thou shalt not murder, except when ordered to do so by the Party
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery, except when doing so may further the Party's interests
8. Thou shalt not steal, unless doing so on behalf of the Party
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, except when it's a public show trial and your a** is on the line, too
10. Thou shalt not covet (of course)

 

[Good-Ole-Rebel]

I'm not sure if this is the case anymore, but when I was younger it was dangerous for people in China to openly practice Christianity. Many had to practice their religion in hiding.

I remember when the pastor of a church I went to as a kid tried to smuggle bibles into China. He put them in a briefcase. When he arrived in China, their version of the TSA searched his briefcase and confiscated all his bibles. They let him into the country where he then proceded to try and find the underground church hidden in the city he was staying in.

He found them, but he was mortified to find that the people there were meowing and barking during worship, and that they had incorporated traditional Chinese spiritual practices into their church services. He came back from that trip a very disappointed and disgruntled man, and referred to the underground Christians living there as "those misguided pagans."

In retrospect, I appreciate the utter contempt and condescension that drizzled out of his mouth when referring to the people who let him into their home as a guest to stay (for free) at great risk to themselves.

There is a biography of a Christian Chinese man named Brother Yun. It is his story of the very things you described in your post. I just finished reading it a few months ago. And it speaks to the importance of a Bible to the Christians there.

I see you are not Christian, but you would enjoy this book, I believe. It is not for the feint of heart. (The Heavenly Man, Brother Yun/Paul Hattaway, Hendrickson, 2009)

Good-Ole-Rebel

 

[oldbadger]

I have always expected something like this to occur at some date. This is why I have always encouraged Christians to go out now, and buy enough Bibles for you to last your life time, no matter where you live.

Good-Ole-Rebel

Which ones to buy?
KJV? NIV? etc etc?
Trouble is, they've all been messed about with by Christians, removing bits, adding bits........... No, the Chinese just might go back to the earliest manuscripts and produce an objectively edited version.... you never know.
At least they could edit Gospels like John's, who couldn't even get the timeline in correct order or the duration of events.

And maybe, just maybe, the Chinese would make it clear that Jesus never was in contention with 'The Jews', but with the Priesthood, just like the Baptist had been.

Caused millennia of Antisemitism, G-John did.... and Paul.

Good Luck to the Chinese...... it would actually benefit their credibility if they just did an object agenda-free job, and with amazing results.

 

[AsianActivist]

The Chinese tried atheism, instead of the tolerant version of Atheism as it is practiced by western progressives it was an intolerant Stalnistic atheism which contained none of the good parts of Western atheism (for example gender equality or tolerance for members of the LBGT community). Then they tried to modify Buddhism and got it completely wrong.

I am pretty sure that the Chinese will get islam n xtianity wrong too.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I think this chap is in line for first dibs (brother of Rev. Richard Coles?):

https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Cockney-Mike-Coles/dp/1841012173

 

[Vee]

China to rewrite the Bible and the Quran to further Sinicize religion | Tibetan Review

China has called for a “comprehensive evaluation of the existing religious classics aiming at contents which do not conform to the progress of the times” and it has been understood to mean that the Bible and the Quran should be rewritten by “re-translation”. The order was issued during a meeting in Nov 2019, reported dailymail.co.uk Dec 24.

The order was given in November during a meeting held by the Committee for Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which oversees the ethnic and religious matters in China, the report said.​

Does that mean all the persecution of Christian and Muslims didn't work so well after all? Is this plan B?

 

[stvdv]

The bible has already been rewritten many times, there are currently hundreds of versions, each subtly different (and tens of thousands of christian sects each interpretating the particularly version of the bible they prefer in whatever way suites their sensibilities). I don't think one more will make much difference to Christianity. All it means is one more sect to add to the number that is increasing weekly anyway.

Yes, I agree.

At least it should make the Christians think ... what the Hell have we been doing ... creating thousands of different Christian sects in just 2019 years.

The Christians might have been the ones who inspired the Chinese to do it in the first place.

 

[danieldemol]

It may be no big deal that the Chinese are writing their own bible, but it is certainly a big deal that they will try to force it on Christians. Same goes for the Quran and Muslims.

 

[stvdv]

It may be no big deal that the Chinese are writing their own bible, but it is certainly a big deal that they will try to force it on Christians. Same goes for the Quran and Muslims.

That's part of their plan I think, to control all the people. Few month ago it was in the news, that they already have cameras everywhere on the streets in a particular city (as a testcase to start having it everywhere soon), to follow your every move. If you buy diapers you get plus points, if you buy alcohol you get minus points. If you do really crazy your travel card is blocked so you have to walk.

So this Bible translation seems an understandable move. I am glad I live in Europe, but in 20 years we might have it here also. Big Brother is watching you. They even have it on television to brainwash the people, so that they get used to this idea and won't fight to much when it is indeed happening.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

This is the evil work of the Chinese Communist Party. CCP has to be stopped in their evil act toward all spiritual practice.

Good luck with that. You should write them a strongly worded letter.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Good luck with that. You should write them a strongly worded letter.

That would not help much. But to stop them from interfering with especially the Chinese people, and manipulation of spiritual people, or end the persecution of many spiritual people. That is important, and one way to do that is by exposing the evil they do.