Olli Dürr

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A lot of dynamism in religions in East Asia – great potential

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East Asia is known for a dynamic life. This is certainly true, also in the area of ​​religions. Developments in the Far East are far more lively than in the areas with “Western values”. The potential for conveying “new ideas” in faith is very great.

Lots of dynamism in East Asia

When looking at developments in people’s religiosity, one tends to focus only on Christianity in their immediate surroundings. However, if we look beyond our own noses to the “Far East”, we see a more dynamic development in this area than in the regions with “Western values”. While in Germany, for example, the most striking feature of developments in people’s religious life is the mass exodus from the Protestant and Catholic churches, in East Asia there is a lively change from one religion to the other. The “switching rate” in East Asia peaks at 53 percent (Japan), while the highest rate recorded in 2017 was 38 percent in Europe in the Netherlands.

Great “willingness to change”

Change
Jump pronounced

The survey institute Pew Research Center has taken a closer look at developments in religiosity and spirituality in East Asia (Source). The centers of the surveys were South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and, for Southeast Asia, Vietnam. Accordingly, the volume of conversions from one faith to another is among the largest in the world.

This also applies to the virtual exit from a religion towards a certain lack of religion, but retaining a spirituality. In economically prosperous regions such as South Korea and Hong Kong, around half of today’s adults have now left the religion with which they grew up. They either ended up in another religion or left it.

The proportion of Christians is shrinking

A “negative balance” results among Christians in South Korea and Hong Kong. Significantly more adults left the Christianity they experienced during childhood than those who chose Christianity. More than a third of the people in the two regions mentioned no longer see themselves as belonging to any religion.

Although the proportion of “religious dropouts” is generally very high, the majority still remain spiritual. In Japan and Taiwan, around 80 percent of all adults still light an incense stick to honor their ancestors.

Almost a third of people in South Korea, 32 percent, are Christians. In Taiwan, the proportion is only 7 percent. Even fewer Christians live in Japan, at just 2 percent. In Vietnam, the proportion of Christians is 10 percent.

The special thing about East and South Asia is that many people do not feel like they belong to any religion, but still practice ceremonies and rituals that can clearly be assigned to the practice of a religion.

Among Christian-oriented people, South Korea has the largest proportion of those who describe themselves as evangelical or born-again, at 51 percent. In Vietnam the proportion of evangelicals or born-again people is 44 percent, in Taiwan it is 8 percent and in Hong Kong it is 36 percent. It is also Christians who, compared to other religions, are most likely to describe their faith as “very important”. In East Asia, the proportion of Buddhists who consider their religion important is just under 20 percent. It is also Christians who think about the meaning of life, about the whys and wherefores.

It is clear that today’s Christian adults in East Asia were more likely to have attended a Christian school than a Buddhist school in their childhood.

Great potential available

Regardless of religion or any religious affiliation at all, the potential for “spiritual leadership” of the people of East Asia is very great. The belief in “one” God or a supernatural power is strong. In Hong Kong, the proportion of people who believe in a higher power is 77 percent, in Japan it is 64 percent, in South Korea it is 60 percent, in Vietnam it is 59 percent and in Taiwan it is even 90 percent. In contrast, there are the respective groups that do not see themselves as belonging to any religion. In Hong Kong it is 61 percent, in Japan it is 42 percent, in South Korea it is 52 percent, in Vietnam it is 48 percent and in Taiwan it is 27 percent.

Taking it by hand should be easy

Hand puppet
Persuasion should be easy

The majority of people in East Asia believe in a higher power, but overall almost half of these people do not belong to any religion and the majority are still spiritually active. There is also a lively willingness to change.

This looks like an easy game for those who want to convince people of a religion that has been declared “necessary”. Supported by appropriately created adverse circumstances in everyday life. One of the possible favorites was, because it has long been an option, nature and climate protection, or the preservation of creation, whichever is most appropriate (Info).

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 24:14

Bible verses from King James Version

A lot of dynamism in religions in East Asia – great potential
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