Christianity in Asia

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Christianity in Asia goes right back to the Apostolic and divine foundations of Christianity by Jesus Christ Our Lord and His holy Apostles. Israel being situated in Asia, it was Asia itself that was the first to hear the Word of God. St. Thomas the Apostle preached and was martyred in India, showing Christianity had already reached the Far East before the end of the First Century A.D. The First Ecumenical Council was the Council of Nicaea in Asia Minor in 325 A.D. There is a plan to commemorate the Synod in Nicaea in 2025.[1]

Growth of Christianity in China

See also: Growth of Christianity in China

In 2020, The Economist published an article entitled Protestant Christianity is booming in China which indicated:

“ As for China’s Christians, their numbers continue to grow. The government reckons that about 200m of China’s 1.4bn people are religious. Although most practice traditional Chinese religions such as Taoism, and longer-standing foreign imports such as Buddhism, Protestant Christianity is probably the fastest-growing faith, with at least 38m adherents today (about 3% of the population), up from 22m a decade ago, according to the government’s count. The true number is probably much higher: perhaps as many as 22m more Chinese Protestants worship in unregistered “underground” churches, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Notre Dame. As China also has 10m-12m Catholics, there are more Christians in China today than in France (38m) or Germany (43m). Combined, Christians and the country’s estimated 23m Muslims may now outnumber the membership of the Communist Party (92m). Indeed, an unknown number of party members go to church as well as local committee meetings.[2] ”

To see the magnitude of the explosive growth of Christianity in China, examine this graph about the growth of Christianity in China in a DW news story about Chinese Christianity (DW is a mainstream news outlet in Germany). There are now more Christians in China than Chinese who belong to the Communist Party of China (see also: East Asia and global desecularization).[3]

For more information, please see:

Ethnic Chinese and a rapid rise of charismatic Christainity in Asian countries

See also: Ethnic Chinese and the rise of Christianity in Southeast Asia

Ethnic Chinese migration has caused a rise of Christianity in Southeast Asia - especially charismatic Christianity.[4][5]

Singapore Management University reports:

“ ...more and more people in Southeast Asia are converting to Christianity. But these new converts – mostly ethnic Chinese – are drawn particularly to charismatic Christianity.

This new wave of religious fervour accounts for the rise of “mega churches” in this part of the world. Juliette Koning and her colleague, Heidi Dahles of VU University Amsterdam, had been studying Indonesia and Malaysia respectively when they first took notice of how many ethnic Chinese business managers were embracing charismatic Christianity. They decided to study this phenomenon through an anthropological lens and presented their findings in their paper, 'Spiritual Power: Ethnic Chinese Managers and the Rise of Charismatic Christianity in Southeast Asia'...

Koning noted that there was a rapid expansion of charismatic Christianity from the 1980s onwards. Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia are said to have the fastest-growing Christian communities and the majority of the new believers are “upwardly mobile, urban, middle-class Chinese”. Asia has the second largest Pentecostal-charismatic Christians of any continent, with the number growing from 10 million to 135 million between 1970 and 2000.[6]

”

Eurasia Review reports:

“ The independent Pentecostal movement has been growing rapidly in Southeast Asia in recent decades, benefitting from the broader expansion of charismatic Christianity from the 1980s onwards in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as further afield in Taiwan and South Korea.

There are several reasons why the growth of this movement in this region is important. Firstly, to a large extent the Pentecostal movement has an ethnic face. The majority of Pentecostals in urban centres like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Surabaya, Jakarta and Manila are, with some notable exceptions, upwardly mobile, middle-class ethnic Chinese. In countries where the ethnic Chinese are in the minority, Pentecostal churches and cell groups are crucial spaces for social networking, business contacts and identity-making.

Secondly, it has a wide economic appeal suggesting an ability to tap into different concerns and aspirations. For while the megachurch, the most popular incarnation of independent Pentecostalism, is often associated with the middle classes, it has great attraction for the poor and the working class in urban centres like Manila.

Thirdly, the central figure of the charismatic leader in Pentecostal churches means that senior pastors enjoy great deference and sway over large congregations.[7]

”

East Asia

North Korea

See Christianity in North Korea

South Korea

South Korean churches have embraced the cause of international missions, and they have sent more than 20,000 missionaries throughout the world.[8]

In 2005, according to figures compiled by the South Korean National Statistical Office, 46.5% of the population were classified as irreligious, compared to 22.8% Buddhists, 18.3% Protestants, 10.9% Catholics, and 1.7% Other religions.[9] and Salvation Army.

John Mark Terry writes in his paper The Growth of Christianity in East Asia:

“ South Korea represents one of international missions’s great successes. Flying into Seoul at night is a blessing for a Christian. One can see florescent crosses on top of church buildings all over the city. During the 1970s and 80s Christianity grew tremendously in Korea. That explosive growth has slowed now, but Christians comprise 31 percent of the population. The Korean churches have embraced the cause of international missions, and they have sent more than 20,000 missionaries throughout the world. At first these missionaries primarily ministered to Koreans living abroad, but improved missionary training has brought a greater emphasis on crosscultural mission.[10] ”

Like most atheists, the atheists of South Korea are not sending out atheist activists to other countries to spread atheism around the world (See: Atheism and apathy).

Japan

Christianity in Japan includes several denominations, with the major ones being Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. The largest Protestant denomination is the United Church of Christ in Japan[11]. Christians make up about 1% of the population.[12]


Philippines

Catholics are the majority religion in the Philippines. Protestants are the second largest religious group in the Philippines. Orthodox Churches also exist see Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Philippines

According to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia founded by an atheist and agnostic, "Irreligion in the Philippines is particularly rare among Filipinos...".[13]


Taiwan

About 4.5% of Taiwanese are identified as Christian. [14]. Christianity in Taiwan includes several denominations, with the largest being the Presbyterian Church, followed by Catholicism. Other denominations present include Baptists, Methodism, Lutheranism, Adventists, Quakers.[15] and Salvation Army

North Asia

Armenia

See Christianity in Armenia

Azerbaijan

Christianity is a minority religion in Azerbaijan, comprising approximately 3.1% to 4.8% of the population. The estimated number of Christians ranges from 280,000 to 450,000. The majority of Christians are Russian and Georgian Orthodox, with a smaller community of Protestant Christians, many of whom converted from Islam. The 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War may of chased some Christians to Armenia[16][17],

Kazakhstan

The main Christian denominations in Kazakhstan include the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the largest, followed by smaller groups such as Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and various Protestant denominations. Christians make up about 17.2% of the population[18].

Georgia, Republic of

See Christianity in Georgia, Republic of

Mongolia and global

In the early 1980s there were only a handful of known Christian believers in Mongolia. In 2011, Mongolia per capita sent out more Christian missionaries than any country in the world.[19]

Russia

See Christianity in Russia

Uzbekistan

Christians are a minority in Uzbekistan include Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and various Protestant groups such as Baptists, Methodists, and Seventh-day Adventists[20].

Southeast Asia

Indonesia

See Christianity in Indonesia

Myanmar (Burma)

Approximately 6% of Myanmar’s population identifies as Christian. Mostly Baptist, Roman Catholic or Salvation Army.[21]

Singapore

Christianity is 18.9% of the population of Singapore. Anglicanism, Catholicism, Evangelicalism, Lutheranism, Methodism, Pentecostalism, and Presbyterianism and Salvation Army[22]

Thailand

Christians in Thailand, are about 1.4% of the population, with most in the northern regions. Major churches are Catholic Church, the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT)[23], the Thailand Baptist Convention[24], the Evangelical Fellowship of Thailand (EFT)[25], the Seventh Day Adventists[26] and Salvation Army.

Vietnam

Christians in Vietnam include Roman Catholicism, which is the largest, followed by various Protestant groups such as the Evangelical Church of Vietnam and smaller denominations like Baptists and Anglicans. As of recent estimates, Catholics make up about 6.6% and Protestants about 1%[27].

South Asia

Afghanistan

See Christianity in Afghanistan

India

The Indian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest denominations of Christianity, originating in India around 52 AD, when St. Thomas the Apostle traveled to India. The church is also called Malankara Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of the East, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East [28]. Other Christian groups in India are Protestantism, Roman Catholic Church and Salvation Army.
See also Christianity in India

Maldives

Maldives Citizens are not allowed to be Christians the only people allowed to say they are Christians are foreign workers and visitors a few churches are allowed[29]

Nepal

Christians make up about 1.8% of the population in Nepal. Baptists, Pentecostals Catholics and Seventh-Day Adventist are among the population[30]

Pakistan

See Christianity in Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Christian denominations in Sri Lanka include Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Methodism, Baptists, Pentecostals[31].

West Asia(Middle East)

See also Middle Eastern Genocides

Jordan

See Christianity in Jordan

Iraq

See Christianity in Iraq

Iran

See Christianity in Iran

Saudi Arabia

See Christianity in Saudi Arabia

Syria

See Christianity in Syria

Turkey

Christian life in Turkey is marked by a small but diverse community, including Armenian, Greek Orthodox, and Protestant Christians, who face challenges in a predominantly Muslim society. While the Turkish constitution guarantees religious freedom, Christians often encounter social and legal obstacles, including restrictions on worship[32].

Yemen

See Christianity in Yemen

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Bartholomew:-With-Francis,-we-invite-all-Christians-to-celebrate-the-first-synod-of-Nicaea-in-2025-31213.html
  2. ↑ Protestant Christianity is booming in China, The Economist, Sep 15th 2020
  3. ↑ In Xi we trust - Is China cracking down on Christianity?, DW News
  4. ↑ The State Of Pentecostalism In Southeast Asia: Ethnicity, Class And Leadership – Analysis, Eurasia Review
  5. ↑ UNDERSTANDING THE RAPID RISE OF CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, Singapore Management University, 2010
  6. ↑ UNDERSTANDING THE RAPID RISE OF CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, Singapore Management University, 2010
  7. ↑ The State Of Pentecostalism In Southeast Asia: Ethnicity, Class And Leadership – Analysis, Eurasia Review
  8. ↑ The Growth of Christianity in East Asia
  9. ↑ According to figures compiled by the South Korean [[National Statistical Office (South Korea)|]]. 인구,가구/시도별 종교인구/시도별 종교인구 (2005년 인구총조사). NSO online KOSIS database. Retrieved on August 23, 2006.
  10. ↑ The Growth of Christianity in East Asia
  11. ↑ https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/united-church-of-christ-in-japan
  12. ↑ https://christianity.fandom.com/wiki/Christianity_in_Japan
  13. ↑ Irreligion in the Philippines, July 2018, "Irreligion in the Philippines is particularly rare among Filipinos...".
  14. ↑ https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/taiwanese-culture/taiwanese-culture-religion
  15. ↑ https://east-is-east.org/blog-root/?page_id=1713
  16. ↑ https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/research-reports/articles/stories/Azerbaijan-Christian-population-has-plummeted/
  17. ↑ https://www.visionofhumanity.org/armenia-azerbaijan-peace-for-a-longstanding-conflict/
  18. ↑ https://www.orexca.com/kazakhstan/religions.htm
  19. ↑ Phill Butler : The Mongolia Story
  20. ↑ https://ucs.nd.edu/learn/uzbekistan/
  21. ↑ https://thewitness.org/christianity-in-myanmar/
  22. ↑ https://thewitness.org/christianity-in-singapore/
  23. ↑ https://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/church-of-christ-in-thailand
  24. ↑ https://baptistworld.org/member/thailand-baptist-convention/
  25. ↑ https://linkingglobalvoices.com/networks-listing/networks-view?tx_genmobile_sites%5Baction%5D=show&tx_genmobile_sites%5Bcontroller%5D=Site&tx_genmobile_sites%5Bsite%5D=1179&cHash=fc2dc9a201110926206c2e76ec3ea2d7
  26. ↑ https://thaimissions.info/gsdl/collect/thaimiss/index/assoc/HASH01db/b8f3423f.dir/doc.pdf
  27. ↑ https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/countries/vietnam/
  28. ↑ St Thomas Detroit, " History of Indian Orthodox Church ". [1]
  29. ↑ https://www.holidify.com/collections/churches-in-maldives
  30. ↑ https://lakshmanbasnet.com/nepal/churches-list-christianity-nepal/
  31. ↑ https://lausanne.org/global-analysis/christianity-in-sri-lanka-how-we-can-learn-from-and-support-the-church-there
  32. ↑ https://www.bestofephesus.com/christianity-in-turkey.php
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