Why has Christianity mostly failed in the far east and in south Asia?

[Xeno.of.athens]

Under the romans Christianity eventually became the dominant religion of the middle east, north Africa, and Europe but it never had similar expansion in India or China or the other parts of the far east. Do you have a theory to explain why that is so, is there some theological impediment in the far east?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Under the romans Christianity eventually became the dominant religion of the middle east, north Africa, and Europe but it never had similar expansion in India or China or the other parts of the far east. Do you have a theory to explain why that is so, is there some theological impediment in the far east?

It has done very well in the Philippines, is doing well in S. Korea, did OK in Viet Nam, and is growing in China despite persecution (or maybe because of it).

 

[bling]

Under the romans Christianity eventually became the dominant religion of the middle east, north Africa, and Europe but it never had similar expansion in India or China or the other parts of the far east. Do you have a theory to explain why that is so, is there some theological impediment in the far east?

In China and N. Korea independent Unregistered House Churches do not require and central organization, their organization is flat, the highest position is house leader, with everyone reporting directly to Christ. Central big-name leaders go to prison.

People are not wanting to leave one dictatorship for another.

 

[Bob Crowley]

East and South East Asia alreay had strongly entrenched systematic religious beliefs of their own including Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism (which is more of an ethical platform).

Europe by contrast had "myths" and local religions without much formality - Norse myths, Greek myths, Roman myths, Druidism in Britain, Germanic myths and so on. I sometimes wonder if the Greeks and Romans even took their own myths seriously.

The Roman Empire had made travel easy in parts of Europe. But gettng to India, China and East Asia was a different story. That didn't become feasible in any meaningful way till the Age of Exploration. By that time the Europeans were also engaged in pursuing their colonial dreams.

To some extent Christian missionaries incorporated European cultural norms which rubbed the locals the wrong way.

Another issue was that the Europeans were seen as colonial powers and Christianity as a colonial tool.

If Churches are growing today in Africa, China and East Asia, it is because the locals are doing the work, not Europeans or Americans. Their churches have an indigenous flavour.

In Japan for example ancestor worship can be a barrier unless it is somehow incorporated into their Christian faith.

Barrier to Faith in Japan: Ancestor Worship - OMF | Mission among East Asia’s people

Several days a week I go for a short run before breakfast. As I pass the homes, often the first scent that reaches my nose is not bacon or even grilled fish, but incense. Many Japanese—even those who don’t consider themselves religious—have a butsudan, a Buddhist altar. They offer prayers…

omf.org

 

[Always in His Presence]

Perhaps Roman Catholicism has failed, but we have planted 32,000 churches in the last three years. One Pentecostal group has a discipleship program of more than 1.2 million in Bangladesh alone. The fastest growing churches are in South East Asia.

The ministry that I travel and teach for has 290 Bible Schools in 50 nations with a global student population of 25,000 a year.

No, the church is alive and well and growing! To God be all the Glory.

 

[Always in His Presence]

For reference:

8 Encouraging Trends in Global Christianity for 2024 - Lifeway Research

The 2024 Status of Global Christianity report provides at least eight positive trends that paint a picture of a healthy, growing church.

research.lifeway.com

While Christianity is growing as a whole, certain branches are experiencing even more growth. Protestants (1.63%), independents (1.96%), evangelicals (1.66%), and Pentecostal/charismatics (1.48%) are the fastest-growing groups.​

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The number of global Protestants is expected to climb to more than 625 million this year. Evangelicals number more than 400 million. Pentecostals continue to experience rapid growth, climbing from less than a million in 1900 to projections of topping a billion by 2050.​

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The fastest-growing areas for Christianity are in the global south, particularly Asia and Africa. Asia is home to more than 415 million Christians and growing at a rate of 2.11%. Meanwhile, 734 million Christians live in Africa, where the faith is growing at a 2.64% rate.​

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[BobRyan]

Under the romans Christianity eventually became the dominant religion of the middle east, north Africa, and Europe but it never had similar expansion in India or China or the other parts of the far east. Do you have a theory to explain why that is so, is there some theological impediment in the far east?

There is a lot of "state controlled religion" laws in the far east, in Muslim nations, in Russia, China etc. Christianity gets a lot more coordinated push back under certain state-controlled-religion contexts.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Perhaps Roman Catholicism has failed, but we have planted 32,000 churches in the last three years. One Pentecostal group has a discipleship program of more than 1.2 million in Bangladesh alone. The fastest growing churches are in South East Asia.

The ministry that I travel and teach for has 290 Bible Schools in 50 nations with a global student population of 25,000 a year.

No, the church is alive and well and growing! To God be all the Glory.

Your post reads like a bit of triumphalism. Okay, bask in the growth of Pentecostal churches, it is truly good that the gospel is spread, and many believe. I rejoice with you.

Wikipedia reports regarding India:

The Catholic Church in India is part of the worldwide Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope. There are over 20 million Catholics in India,[1] representing around 1.55% of the total population,[2] and the Catholic Church is the single largest Christian church in India.[1] There are 10,701 parishes that make up 174 dioceses and eparchies, which are organised into 29 ecclesiastical provinces. Of these, 132 dioceses are of the Latin Church, 31 of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and 11 of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Despite the very small population that Indian Catholics make up percentage wise, India still has the second-largest Christian population in Asia after the Catholic Church in the Philippines.​

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All Catholic bishops from all dioceses, come together to form the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, first convened in British India, 1944.[3] The Vatican City's representative ambassador to the government of India is the Apostolic Nuncio to India. The diplomatic mission of the Holy See to India, similar to an embassy, was established as the Apostolic delegation to the East Indies in 1881. It was raised to an Internunciature by Pope Pius XII in 1948, and to a full Apostolic Nunciature by Pope Paul VI in 1967. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli is the current Apostolic Nuncio named by Pope Francis on 13 March 2021. The Nunciature is located at 50-C, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.​

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Regarding China Wikipedia reports:

The number of Catholics is hard to estimate because of the large number of Christians who do not affiliate with either of the two state-approved denominations.[42][35]​

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Estimates in 2020 suggested that Catholics make up 0.69% of the population.[43]​

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The 2010 Blue Book of Religions, produced by the Institute of World Religions at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a research institution directly under the State Council, estimated Catholics in China to number about 5.7 million.[44] This Chinese government estimate only included members of the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA). It did not include un-baptized persons attending Christian groups, non-adult children of Christian believers or other persons under age 18, and unregistered Christian groups.[42]​

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The Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong, which monitors the number of Chinese Catholic members, estimated in 2012 that there were 12 million Catholics in both branches of the Catholic Church.[45]​

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In 2017 Hebei Province had the largest Catholic Christian population in China, with 1 million Church members according to the local government.[46] Generally, Catholic institutions were dominant in North and Central regions of China.[42]​

In Taiwan Wikipedia says:

According to the 2005 census, Christianity in Taiwan constituted 3.9% of the population;[2] this included approximately 300,000 Catholics.​

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Estimates in 2020 suggested that the portion had risen to 4% or 6%,[3][4][5] with Catholics making up 1% of the country's population. In the same year there were over 600 priests and 1,000 nuns serving in 424 parishes.[6]​

 

[RandyPNW]

Under the romans Christianity eventually became the dominant religion of the middle east, north Africa, and Europe but it never had similar expansion in India or China or the other parts of the far east. Do you have a theory to explain why that is so, is there some theological impediment in the far east?

Early in history it is recorded that men moved East, it seems to remove themselves form God's controlling presence. Christianity has made inroads in China, in India, and in many places traditionally cold to the Gospel. But God's covenants were largely with those who remained nearer to God's presence, namely Israel and Europe.

Western expansion was not, it seems, any effort to move away from the Gospel, but rather, an effort to remove from abusive Christian states. The Gospel remains powerful in the West, although across the earth even traditionally Christian areas are growing cold.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Your post reads like a bit of triumphalism. Okay, bask in the growth of Pentecostal churches, it is truly good that the gospel is spread, and many believe. I rejoice with you.

No - you are judging wrongly - For me to triumph I would have to take what only belongs to God -

You are the one who said Christ was failing - not me.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

No - you are judging wrongly - For me to triumph I would have to take what only belongs to God -

You are the one who said Christ was failing - not me.

I have never stated that the Lord Jesus Christ is failing, nor have I entertained such a thought. How can our God and Savior fail when He reigns over all? Indeed, Jesus cannot fail. To suggest otherwise is a disturbing notion to introduce into the conversation.

 

[Always in His Presence]

I have never stated that the Lord Jesus Christ is failing, nor have I entertained such a thought. How can our God and Savior fail when He reigns over all? Indeed, Jesus cannot fail. To suggest otherwise is a disturbing notion to introduce into the conversation.

the title of the thread -

Why has Christianity mostly failed in the far east and in south Asia?​

For Christianity to fail - so must Christ.

 

[Pioneer3mm]

Interesting topic..
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it is because the locals are doing the work, not Europeans or Americans. Their churches have an indigenous flavour.

Good point.
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Indigenous missions/missionaries are effective/have an impact on..in pioneering work.
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I have been working with Christian mission leaders..involved in unreached regions..
- many years.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

the title of the thread -

Why has Christianity mostly failed in the far east and in south Asia?​

For Christianity to fail - so must Christ.

The notion that Christianity could fail is based solely on human errors and instances of faithlessness; however, the Lord is always faithful and infallible. The failure mentioned pertains to the challenge of spreading the gospel across the vast populations of East and South Asia. Despite these challenges, the gospel endures, and Christians persist in proclaiming it in these regions.

 

[Always in His Presence]

The notion that Christianity could fail is based solely on human errors and instances of faithlessness; however, the Lord is always faithful and infallible. The failure mentioned pertains to the challenge of spreading the gospel across the vast populations of East and South Asia. Despite these challenges, the gospel endures, and Christians persist in proclaiming it in these regions.

Oh, I thought you stated that Christianity mostly failed? which is it?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Oh, I thought you stated that Christianity mostly failed? which is it?

What do you mean?

Christianity has not spread widely in India and China; it is present but in quite small numbers.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Christianity has not spread widely in India and China; it is present but in quite small numbers.

Absolutely, positivity incorrect.

Incredible Indian Christianity: A Special Report on the World’s Most Vibrant Christward Movement​

Church Growth Soars in India Despite Persecution, COVID-19​

Christians Packing Churches in India as Christianity Sees Surprising Growth Despite Rising Persecution Cases​

As for China

What’s behind Boom of Christianity in China?​

Theology scholars and a global network of researchers are using big data to map religion’s history in China and explain its rapid growth​

Protestant Christianity is booming in China​

Perhaps Roman Catholicism has not spread widely in India and China, but the Protestant church is growing at a record pace. Our little ministry has participated in planting 32,000 churches in India and area's north.

 

[jas3]

Perhaps Roman Catholicism has not spread widely in India and China, but the Protestant church is growing at a record pace. Our little ministry has participated in planting 32,000 churches in India and area's north.

"Is growing" is not the same as "has spread," and clearly Christianity has not ever been more than a few percent of the population in India and China.

 

[Always in His Presence]

"Is growing" is not the same as "has spread," and clearly Christianity has not ever been more than a few percent of the population in India and China.

I just don’t have a knife to split a hair that fine.

If tens of millions coming to Christ is a small percentage in your eyes. So be it.

But 32,000 churches in three years is nothing to look down one’s theological nose at.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

I just don’t have a knife to split a hair that fine.

If tens of millions coming to Christ is a small percentage in your eyes. So be it.

But 32,000 churches in three years is nothing to look down one’s theological nose at.

Can you provide documentation for the 32,000 churches, please?