Discrimination is unfair or prejudicial treatment. Religious discrimination refers to preconceived attitudes and evaluations held against individuals or groups within a specific religion or belief system.
We often witness acts of prejudice within faith communities. These behaviors not only fail to demonstrate heavenly wisdom but also become obstacles to the spread of the gospel.
Some extremely "firm" believers avoid restaurants that venerate the "God of Wealth," refuse to sit next to Buddhists while traveling, and avoid associating with people born in the Year of the Dragon. Some refuse to visit ancestors’ graves, attack other beliefs as "heresies," and engage in public debates about whether Christ or Buddha is greater.
There are those who, with a sense of self-importance, arbitrarily impose their prejudices on others, accusing one of sin and another of being unspiritual. Some are overly suspicious, prejudging their fellow believers with accusations of immorality, corruption, and other sins.
Exhibiting a sense of religious superiority, some believe their Christian faith to be above other beliefs, which leads to disdain, attacks, and denigration of other religions or non-believers. They reject and refuse to interact with or cooperate with people of different faiths, creating religious divides. Some make moral judgments and show intolerance based on their religious beliefs, using their faith as a standard to judge others' actions and choices. They exhibit intolerance towards behaviors that do not conform to their doctrines.
Paul changed from prejudicing and persecuting Christians to becoming a Christian and bravely confronting internal Christian prejudices. Finally, he became a great apostle to spread the gospel among the Gentiles.
Prejudice limits our vision, preventing us from fairly viewing different cultures, customs, and beliefs, which leads to misunderstanding and rejection of others. Hypocrisy corrodes the sincerity of our actions, interfering with the transmission of the gospel, which is pure and peaceful.
Times are changing and developing, but in our religious lives, prejudice and extremism still exist, even showing a tendency to intensify.
For example, Christians are prejudiced against religions other than Christianity. A leader of the provincial CC&TSPM in China criticized some believers during a gathering for their illegal actions in causing trouble at Taoist sites under the pretext of opposing idolatry. Some people have condemned bizarre theories that label Buddhism as heresy, but Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam are legally recognized religions in China.
There is also prejudice and extremism against traditional Chinese festivals and customs. Some believers oppose the Qingming Festival, even inciting resistance online, calling it a "ghost festival." However, Qingming is not just about worship and tomb-sweeping; activities, like spring outings, tree planting, hiking, kite flying, and swinging, are also launched at the festival. Additionally, in 2006, Qingming was listed as part of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items in 2004.
There are also those who object to China's most important festival, the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year, as if they were "spiritual"; in reality, this damages the image of Christianity. They portray themselves as different, eccentric individuals, which tarnishes the reputation of Christianity. However, they approach Chinese culture, customs, and heritage with prejudice and extreme attitudes. How can the localization of Christianity be realized this way?"
A Christian, after his mother passed away, claimed she was a sinner because she was a Buddhist, saying her illness was due to sin and that she was condemned to hell upon death. This statement enraged friends and family, leading to a storm of criticism and anger.
Some people have grievances against law enforcement authorities. They cite scriptures, encouraging believers to emulate martyrs of the faith, which is a form of fanaticism. God is not used for one's selfish intent.
It can be seen that religious discrimination (extremism) hinders the spread of the gospel, obstructs the development of the sinicization of Christianity, and impedes friendly relations and exchanges between Christianity and other patriotic religions. Discarding prejudice (extremism) will broaden our horizons and enable the widespread dissemination of the gospel.
(This article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the views expressed in the article solely represent the opinions of the author.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
偏见是不公平或固执的见解；信仰上的偏见指的是对特定宗教或信仰系统中的个体或群体持有的先入为主的态度和评价。
我们常常目睹信仰中的偏见行为，这些行为不仅未能体现属天的智慧，反而成为阻碍福音传播的障碍。
有信仰异常“坚定”的信徒，看到饭店供奉“财神”就不进去、旅游时拒绝和信佛教的人坐在一个座位上、和属龙的人不交往；也有的拒绝扫墓祭祖、攻击其它信仰是“异端”、喜欢在公开场所争竞一些“基督大还是佛祖大”的话题等等。
也有的人唯我独尊，随意地、擅自把自己的偏见加给其他肢体，指责这个有罪、那个不属灵的；也有怀疑一切，先入为主的，把一些罪名，包括淫乱、贪污等等罪名加给同工同道的。
有的有信仰优越感，认为自己的基督教信仰高于其他信仰，导致对其他宗教或无宗教信仰者的轻视、攻击和贬损基督教。有的排斥与自己信仰不同的人，不愿与之交流或合作，形成宗教隔阂。有的道德判断、不宽容。有的以自己的宗教信仰为标准，对他人的行为和选择进行评判。有的对于不符合自己教义的行为表现出不宽容的态度。
而圣经里面 保罗传福音的一生轨迹就是偏见、迫害基督徒→改变偏见成为基督徒→勇敢面对基督教内部的偏见、在外邦人中传福音，成为大使徒。
偏见限制了我们的视野，使我们无法公正地看待不同文化、习俗和信仰，甚至可能导致对他人的误解与排斥。同时，假冒则侵蚀了我们行为的真诚，使得本应纯洁、和平的福音信息变得不再纯净。
时代在变化、发展。但是在我们的信仰生活中，偏见与偏激仍然存在，而且还有越演越烈的倾向。
比如，对除基督教以外的宗教信仰持有偏见。一位省基督教两会主要负责人就在信徒聚会的时候批评了有的信徒打着反对拜偶像的旗号到道教场所闹事的违法事件；就说有人论断佛教是异端的奇谈怪论，而佛教、道教、基督教、伊斯兰教是国家依法承认的宗教信仰。
比如，对中国传统节日和习俗的偏见、偏激。有信徒对清明节持反对意见，甚至在网络扇动抵制清明节，说是“鬼节”。清明节不只是祭祀、扫墓，还有许多诸如踏青旅游、植树造林、登高健身、放风筝、荡秋千等活动。同时，2006年，清明节被列入第一批国家级非物质文化遗产名录。
还有对中国最重大节日春节提出异议的，好像“属灵”，实则有损我们信仰的形象，把自己打扮成为另类、怪人，是为基督教抹黑。你连这些最起码的中国文化习俗、遗产都带着偏见的有色眼镜、并持偏激的态度，如何实现基督教中国化？
另外我还听到一位基督徒在其母亲病故后说，她是犯罪的人，她信佛教，她有病就是因为有罪，死了也是下地狱。此语一出惹怒众亲友，遭到一片骂声和板砖。
有的地方、有的人对有关部门的执法有意见。他们引经据典，要信徒们效仿那些为信仰殉道的先哲们，这是一种很危险的偏见、偏激和极端偏执。神不是利用为了达成一己之利。
由此看来，信仰的偏见（偏激）会阻碍福音的传播、阻碍基督教中国化的发展、阻碍基督教与其它爱国宗教的友好关系和往来，摒弃偏见（偏激）就会扩张我们的境界，使福音广传。
（本文作者为福音时报特约撰稿人，文中观点仅代表作者人个人观点。）
信仰偏见会阻碍福音的传播
Discrimination is unfair or prejudicial treatment. Religious discrimination refers to preconceived attitudes and evaluations held against individuals or groups within a specific religion or belief system.
We often witness acts of prejudice within faith communities. These behaviors not only fail to demonstrate heavenly wisdom but also become obstacles to the spread of the gospel.
Some extremely "firm" believers avoid restaurants that venerate the "God of Wealth," refuse to sit next to Buddhists while traveling, and avoid associating with people born in the Year of the Dragon. Some refuse to visit ancestors’ graves, attack other beliefs as "heresies," and engage in public debates about whether Christ or Buddha is greater.
There are those who, with a sense of self-importance, arbitrarily impose their prejudices on others, accusing one of sin and another of being unspiritual. Some are overly suspicious, prejudging their fellow believers with accusations of immorality, corruption, and other sins.
Exhibiting a sense of religious superiority, some believe their Christian faith to be above other beliefs, which leads to disdain, attacks, and denigration of other religions or non-believers. They reject and refuse to interact with or cooperate with people of different faiths, creating religious divides. Some make moral judgments and show intolerance based on their religious beliefs, using their faith as a standard to judge others' actions and choices. They exhibit intolerance towards behaviors that do not conform to their doctrines.
Paul changed from prejudicing and persecuting Christians to becoming a Christian and bravely confronting internal Christian prejudices. Finally, he became a great apostle to spread the gospel among the Gentiles.
Prejudice limits our vision, preventing us from fairly viewing different cultures, customs, and beliefs, which leads to misunderstanding and rejection of others. Hypocrisy corrodes the sincerity of our actions, interfering with the transmission of the gospel, which is pure and peaceful.
Times are changing and developing, but in our religious lives, prejudice and extremism still exist, even showing a tendency to intensify.
For example, Christians are prejudiced against religions other than Christianity. A leader of the provincial CC&TSPM in China criticized some believers during a gathering for their illegal actions in causing trouble at Taoist sites under the pretext of opposing idolatry. Some people have condemned bizarre theories that label Buddhism as heresy, but Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam are legally recognized religions in China.
There is also prejudice and extremism against traditional Chinese festivals and customs. Some believers oppose the Qingming Festival, even inciting resistance online, calling it a "ghost festival." However, Qingming is not just about worship and tomb-sweeping; activities, like spring outings, tree planting, hiking, kite flying, and swinging, are also launched at the festival. Additionally, in 2006, Qingming was listed as part of the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage items in 2004.
There are also those who object to China's most important festival, the Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year, as if they were "spiritual"; in reality, this damages the image of Christianity. They portray themselves as different, eccentric individuals, which tarnishes the reputation of Christianity. However, they approach Chinese culture, customs, and heritage with prejudice and extreme attitudes. How can the localization of Christianity be realized this way?"
A Christian, after his mother passed away, claimed she was a sinner because she was a Buddhist, saying her illness was due to sin and that she was condemned to hell upon death. This statement enraged friends and family, leading to a storm of criticism and anger.
Some people have grievances against law enforcement authorities. They cite scriptures, encouraging believers to emulate martyrs of the faith, which is a form of fanaticism. God is not used for one's selfish intent.
It can be seen that religious discrimination (extremism) hinders the spread of the gospel, obstructs the development of the sinicization of Christianity, and impedes friendly relations and exchanges between Christianity and other patriotic religions. Discarding prejudice (extremism) will broaden our horizons and enable the widespread dissemination of the gospel.
(This article was originally published by the Gospel Times and the views expressed in the article solely represent the opinions of the author.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Religious Discrimination Hinders Spread of Gospel
