"China cracks down on unofficial Christian church
BEIJING: Dozens of members of a prominent unofficial Protestant church and their pastor have gone missing in southwest China after authorities raided their homes, churchgoers said Monday (Dec 10), amid increasing restrictions on religious worship.
The police sweep occurred Sunday night, according to a statement from the Early Rain Covenant Church, which is based in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.
Several church leaders, including pastor Wang Yi, were detained, several parishioners told AFP on condition of anonymity. At least 80 people are missing, they said, but it was unclear how many are detained or unaccounted for.
"Most church members were taken from their homes, and some were grabbed off the street," one churchgoer told AFP, requesting anonymity. "Some were found via their smartphone's location and were taken away."
"The police had the whole neighbourhood under control, as well as the surrounding area," he continued. "They didn't let anyone get close."
Sichuan police declined to comment. Chengdu police did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment."
Some said: "The time has come." n that these churches r formed for this purpose!!
From a religious perspective, the state should not interfere with people's free choice to worship. In fact, no mortal force can stop a living human being fr believing in a religion! That's why many authoritarian states r petrified of religious groups that they don't understand, or controlled!
This crackdown is against unregistered churches. Especially when they grow to a certain size n attracting people of certain status n intelligence.
The rewards of going to heaven can never be matched by fame n fortune or whatever earthy things any states can provide for a believer. So, these believers need to be monitored n controlled lest they go against the states!!
A never ending cycle of "Catch them become they become uncontrollable!"
May there b peace n balance the need for personal religious worship vs. the need of the state for compliance population n social stability!
BEIJING: Dozens of members of a prominent unofficial Protestant church and their pastor have gone missing in southwest China after authorities raided their homes, churchgoers said Monday (Dec 10), amid increasing restrictions on religious worship.
The police sweep occurred Sunday night, according to a statement from the Early Rain Covenant Church, which is based in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.
Several church leaders, including pastor Wang Yi, were detained, several parishioners told AFP on condition of anonymity. At least 80 people are missing, they said, but it was unclear how many are detained or unaccounted for.
"Most church members were taken from their homes, and some were grabbed off the street," one churchgoer told AFP, requesting anonymity. "Some were found via their smartphone's location and were taken away."
"The police had the whole neighbourhood under control, as well as the surrounding area," he continued. "They didn't let anyone get close."
Sichuan police declined to comment. Chengdu police did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment."
Some said: "The time has come." n that these churches r formed for this purpose!!
From a religious perspective, the state should not interfere with people's free choice to worship. In fact, no mortal force can stop a living human being fr believing in a religion! That's why many authoritarian states r petrified of religious groups that they don't understand, or controlled!
This crackdown is against unregistered churches. Especially when they grow to a certain size n attracting people of certain status n intelligence.
The rewards of going to heaven can never be matched by fame n fortune or whatever earthy things any states can provide for a believer. So, these believers need to be monitored n controlled lest they go against the states!!
A never ending cycle of "Catch them become they become uncontrollable!"
May there b peace n balance the need for personal religious worship vs. the need of the state for compliance population n social stability!
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