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Q: Religion in China.
Most of the Westerners classify Chinese people as atheists in line with country's official state ideology, but once you come to China you learn that there are temples of many different faiths present here and that the most of the people would visit a temple now and then, especially before some important exams and such-like events. I've noticed that many Chinese people find it difficult to define themselves in religious terms. How would you classify the bulk of Chinese people you came across: believers,non-believers,atheists ?
"Believer", "non-believer" and "atheist" are terms which belong to the Western theist vs non-theist debate. They are not particularly relevant when describing Chinese people's inconsistent and noncommittal superstitions.
Chinese people are generally superstitious, and most have not formed consistent religious or non-religious metaphysical beliefs.
Most Western people can identify whether they do or don't believe in God, or don't care. Their beliefs generally remain consistent from one day to the next. Chinese people believe whatever is convenient at the time, without any ongoing commitment to a cohesive belief system. They will pray to a vaguely Christian god when they are in a bad situation, pray to Buddha for money when they visit a temple, claim that fortune tellers can predict their future success and who they should marry, and believe in ghosts because they had a funny feeling once.
Calling Chinese people atheists because they don't believe in one God is misleading. Atheism implies a non-superstitious worldview in which cosmic powers do not exist.
Chinese people certainly aren't atheists, but they don't have consistent enough religious views to be "believers" in the Western sense either.
Chinese people should simply be called "superstitious".
ScotsAlan:
Excellent post. My observations are very similar. Each hometown seems to have It's own religious views. But move away from the hometown, and religious doctrine seems to be flexible. Whatever is most convenient for the issue at hand. I have come across this in the west too. It is universal. Western, and middle eastern countries too, tend to bend "the scriptures" to conform with what they want. And then try to enforce their interpretations on others. Transgender bathroom rights in the US for example. In China, if one God does not work, move onto the next. Try again. Keep going till you get the answer you want. And if it does not work, just walk away and say " that God was no good". It makes sense. Much better to walk away from a useless God than spend eternity trying to explain away an inept God. For the record, I pray a few times at year at a Buddhist temple. Not because I am Buddhist. But because it's close by. Maybe 5 miles. There is a Christian Church about 2 miles from me. I don't go there. I prefer Buddhist. I am left alone there to do my own thing. The Chinese way I suppose. If I went to the Christian church, the preacher would want me to donate, to recruit, to tithe, and maybe even preach. It would be an unconditional commitment to conform. And to get more to do the same. I can worship how I like here. Same as the Chinese do. I like that
"Believer", "non-believer" and "atheist" are terms which belong to the Western theist vs non-theist debate. They are not particularly relevant when describing Chinese people's inconsistent and noncommittal superstitions.
Chinese people are generally superstitious, and most have not formed consistent religious or non-religious metaphysical beliefs.
Most Western people can identify whether they do or don't believe in God, or don't care. Their beliefs generally remain consistent from one day to the next. Chinese people believe whatever is convenient at the time, without any ongoing commitment to a cohesive belief system. They will pray to a vaguely Christian god when they are in a bad situation, pray to Buddha for money when they visit a temple, claim that fortune tellers can predict their future success and who they should marry, and believe in ghosts because they had a funny feeling once.
Calling Chinese people atheists because they don't believe in one God is misleading. Atheism implies a non-superstitious worldview in which cosmic powers do not exist.
Chinese people certainly aren't atheists, but they don't have consistent enough religious views to be "believers" in the Western sense either.
Chinese people should simply be called "superstitious".
ScotsAlan:
Excellent post. My observations are very similar. Each hometown seems to have It's own religious views. But move away from the hometown, and religious doctrine seems to be flexible. Whatever is most convenient for the issue at hand. I have come across this in the west too. It is universal. Western, and middle eastern countries too, tend to bend "the scriptures" to conform with what they want. And then try to enforce their interpretations on others. Transgender bathroom rights in the US for example. In China, if one God does not work, move onto the next. Try again. Keep going till you get the answer you want. And if it does not work, just walk away and say " that God was no good". It makes sense. Much better to walk away from a useless God than spend eternity trying to explain away an inept God. For the record, I pray a few times at year at a Buddhist temple. Not because I am Buddhist. But because it's close by. Maybe 5 miles. There is a Christian Church about 2 miles from me. I don't go there. I prefer Buddhist. I am left alone there to do my own thing. The Chinese way I suppose. If I went to the Christian church, the preacher would want me to donate, to recruit, to tithe, and maybe even preach. It would be an unconditional commitment to conform. And to get more to do the same. I can worship how I like here. Same as the Chinese do. I like that
"Most of the Westerners classify Chinese people as atheists in line with country's official state ideology"
That's a bloody big ASSumption you've made there.....
Englteachted:
It's coming from a Chinese possibly posing as one of 'the westerners'
ScotsAlan:
Indeed. The OP would appear to be a believer in Brietbart. If the OP had actually tried to integrate into Chinese life, he/she would know that China is a deeply religious country.
last I heard they worship 'The Great Pumpkin'
diverdude1:
yeah, I gotta admit it gave me a good laugh first time I seen it. 
