RURAL
Eighty percent of the people of East
Asia, including almost all the minority people groups, live in rural
areas. Many live near or below the poverty level, separated from
the urban centers by geography, language, inadequate means of travel
,and years of customs and traditional religious beliefs. The primary
religions are:
ANIMISM: Most
of the minority people groups in southern East Asia have
strong ties to Animism. This is
not an organized religion, but the beliefs have a strong
hold on the hearts and minds of the people. There is a
strong belief
that spirits live in trees, rivers, mountains, animals, buildings,
and even large rocks. These spirits are considered evil and
are not worshipped, strictly speaking, but must continually
be appeased with sacrifices and offerings to keep them
from afflicting their families and communities and to receive
some blessings from them.
ANCESTOR
WORSHIP: Ancestor worship is practiced by almost all people
groups in East Asia to some degree, often combined with animistic
rituals. Those who practice ancestor worship believe that they
are responsible for the well being of the souls of their
ancestors. An altar to their ancestors is kept in the main
room of the home, where incense is burned and regular offerings
of food and drink are made.
BUDDHISM: Practitioners follow the teachings of Buddha and worship
statues of him in large and small temples with much elaborate
ritual. They believe that a person must go through many
cycles of reincarnation to finally reach Nirvana, or the
state of total harmony and bliss.
ISLAM: Islam was introduced into East Asia in the eighth century.
There are now over 20 million Muslims in East Asia, the
great majority of whom are Sunni Muslim.
|
>>
top of page
URBAN
In the urban areas, the majority of the people, especially those
under 50 years of age, have become increasingly secular, giving
up the outward signs of religious belief. They have been educated
in atheistic schools and view religion as both superstitious
and unscientific.
>> top of page
WHAT ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?
Yes the Church of Jesus Christ is alive and well in East Asia,
and is growing even under varying amounts of severe restrictions.
It is estimated that the church may have as many as 50 million
to 90 million believers. These, however, are concentrated primarily
among the Han people in the eastern provinces. Most of the minority
people groups have only a few believers among millions of people.
Many have no believers and have never even heard the Gospel.
>> top
of page
|
