CHINA, RELIGION, OPINION: What We Believe
By Jin Ying
Throughout China's long history, most Chinese believed in Buddhism. But if we ask our parents or grandparents about their beliefs, their answers are most likely to be "Communism." But what do we, the young generation of Chinese, believe in?
As products of modern culture and education, very few of us have religious beliefs. A teacher told us that a British lady once asked about her beliefs. When the lady learned that our teacher didn't believe in anything, she was astonished and said, "How can you live without belief?" I prefer to say that we do believe in something--we believe in ourselves, though it is really hard to tell whether that is right or not.
Believing in ourselves, we well acknowledge that our fate is dependant upon our own behavior rather than that of a god. We can enhance our life only by the efforts of humans rather than any magical power. But on the other hand, religious belief can sometimes bring comfort.
I remember when a relative of mine died of cancer. Everyone at the funeral cried except her mother, a Christian who was over 80. Her peacefulness impressed me deeply. How lucky that such an old woman could face her daughter's death with composure. In her eyes, her daughter was going to paradise. Thus we can see that religious belief can truly bring comfort to people.
Many westerners with good family backgrounds and social status travel all over the world to serve the poor for religious reasons. I really admire their spirit as well as the spiritual power of their religions. However, there are things I cannot understand. For example, Christianity advocates "equality" for all races and nations. But George W. Bush, an ardent Christian, sent war to Iraq, and made people there suffer greatly. Is that equal? Is that Christian?
Religion confuses me, so I’d rather stick to a life without religion as most Chinese young people do, while at the same time respecting other's beliefs.
Throughout China's long history, most Chinese believed in Buddhism. But if we ask our parents or grandparents about their beliefs, their answers are most likely to be "Communism." But what do we, the young generation of Chinese, believe in?
As products of modern culture and education, very few of us have religious beliefs. A teacher told us that a British lady once asked about her beliefs. When the lady learned that our teacher didn't believe in anything, she was astonished and said, "How can you live without belief?" I prefer to say that we do believe in something--we believe in ourselves, though it is really hard to tell whether that is right or not.
Believing in ourselves, we well acknowledge that our fate is dependant upon our own behavior rather than that of a god. We can enhance our life only by the efforts of humans rather than any magical power. But on the other hand, religious belief can sometimes bring comfort.
I remember when a relative of mine died of cancer. Everyone at the funeral cried except her mother, a Christian who was over 80. Her peacefulness impressed me deeply. How lucky that such an old woman could face her daughter's death with composure. In her eyes, her daughter was going to paradise. Thus we can see that religious belief can truly bring comfort to people.
Many westerners with good family backgrounds and social status travel all over the world to serve the poor for religious reasons. I really admire their spirit as well as the spiritual power of their religions. However, there are things I cannot understand. For example, Christianity advocates "equality" for all races and nations. But George W. Bush, an ardent Christian, sent war to Iraq, and made people there suffer greatly. Is that equal? Is that Christian?
Religion confuses me, so I’d rather stick to a life without religion as most Chinese young people do, while at the same time respecting other's beliefs.
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