superstitious and gobbledegook???

Do you have ANY idea of the massive amount of evidence: biblical, extra-biblical, secular and archaeological for the Bible and Christianity? Surely you don't otherwise you would not reel out your tired victorian anti-Christian mantras.

Does "superstitious and gobbledegook" stand in the face of death, in the face of oppression, in the face changing philosophical fads?
Of course not. No reasonable person placed in danger of their lives or facing persecution for a belief will follow a belief that is in-effective and un-true.
Conclusion a living faith in Christ is both effective and true.

What the Chinese have is an open mind, free of western cynicism, educated and able to decide for themselves.
Exactly what we in the west have lost.

When you cast off your pre-conceptions and approach the Bible's message honestly an amazing truth is revealed.

In my experience the Chinese are able to do this where-as many Westerners simply can't.

Nathan, Inverness, UK

The article is not quite accurate and seems to be based on statements made by the Chinese authorities. Although they seem to be relaxing a little in their attempt to control religion, it still remains a criminal offence to bring a bible into China - where bibles are still in short supply, despite the work of the new press - bibles which certainly do not contain anything other than the authentic text of the Scriptures. The notion that foreign-produced bibles contain extraneous material is simply Chinese propaganda.

The article's estimates of the number of Christians in China are also on the low side. Very large numbers belong to the savagely-persecuted underground churches (that is why they are hidden) and it is more likely that there are now 100m Chinese Christians, with the numbers growing rapidly now that it is impossible to prevent Chinese people from using modern information technology.

Alan Marsh, Ely,

Take note Mr Dawkins of what happens when atheists try to stamp out Christianity - either by violence or distortion. Might as well admit you are on to a loser.

Andrew Brown, derby, UK

i pray that the bible remains true to the original word and not polluted by incorrect and false teachings as would appear to have happened in the 'western countries'. true christianity is no threat to anyone.

stephen baron, leith, tasmania

that's good.

chenzy6708, shenzhen, p.r.o china

How wonderful to see the seed of faith sprouting so fast in China. Miracle happens everyday. The is a very big good news of the year-2007-2008. God bless.

saleem, Rome, Italy

china can fight superstition by teaching its citizens science ..

Romeo Macapobre, Manille, Philippines

I hope the Chinese - such an intelligent people - will not make the mistake of jumping from the frying pan of one belief (Maoism) into the fire of yet another belief.

alan, cologne,

Mr. Bradley,

Where and how did you get your knowledge of history?

Y. K. Hui

Y. K. Hui, Irving, Texas

To Bradley, Cape Town, South Africa,
I cannot agree with you even more. A huge factor in the spreading of the Christianity nowadays, is the influence of American pop culture. As is evident, Protestant is dominating the trend, and Catholic churches have made little progress after the Spanish and Portuguese invaded Latin America. Bible and Christianity in China are more Hollywood than anything the believers would have hoped. Another factor often forget by most Westerners is that Christen missionaries, particularly, those of the catholic churches did millions of evil things in China, when they flooded into China after the Opium war. They took people’s land by force to build churches, to kill them in order to save their souls. China was fortunate that she did not turn into a second South America, thankfully, to her vast population and strong old traditions. Otherwise, we lost our soul and body our ancestors gave, which is the biggest sin in our culture.

Yin Yang, Beijing, CHINA

"The intelligent mind, free of mind, must reject religion and everything that it stands for."
How can we call ourselves free when we are slaves to pornography, alcohol, drugs, and the influence of the media? Christianity is not in any way a limitation of our freedom, but rather the opposite, because Christ wants to free us from the bondage of sin and offers us SO MANY GRACES to live according to his Word, if we seek Him. I don't really see how anyone can say that "China is doing well as an atheist country," considering that suicide is the number one killer of young Chinese adults and claims 250,000 lives in China per year, with upto 3.5 million additional unsuccessful attempts. And where exactly are the human rights? Children have, for decades, been killed and "disposed of" in thousands of unimaginable ways, and you want to tell me there's no need for change? Young people in Asia are searching for Truth, and finding it. I'm sure they don't care what grumpy Americans have to say.

Jordan C., London,

This is really bad news! The Bible has been used for centuries to justify the most terrible crimes against humanity. It is (and was) used to justify the oppression of women, blacks, slaves and the persecution of “non-believers”. Slave-owners used the Bible to justify slavery. It consists mostly of anonymous and incoherent Bronze Age texts that unknown editors cobbled together from many different sources. For 1500 years the Bible has been used as a blueprint for every crime known to humanity. It has been consistently used to justify slavery, mindless bigotry, and the killing of Moslems, Jews, homosexuals, etc. It is entirely unsuitable reading for human beings. By implication it advocates violence, bigotry, cruelty, despotism, torture, child murder. There is no crime or moral depravity that is not vividly depicted in the Bible. It destabilizes susceptible people. How sad that the Bible, which has caused so much misery in the West, should now be allowed to wreak havoc in China as well.

Bradley, Cape Town, South Africa

- And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.- Matthew 24.14

Steiner, Adelaide,

This is great news.

Now, when will Bibles be legalized in Saudi Arabia?

Ethan, Tampa, FL

The intelligent mind, free of mind, must reject religion and everything that it stands for.

Wake up China before it's too late!

G. Dent., N.Y.,

Really, a book that has gone numerous revisions and editorials that credited authorities around the world agree no longer reflects the true nature of what was written 2000 yrs ago?
And what version are they looking at, the King James? what about the numerous versions being held in the Vatican vaults. Modern Christianity is a religion whose tenents were decided upon at the Council of Nice, and the modern day bible has been modified to reflect the kind of society that those elders wanted.
No thanks!

Aryan Muslim, Edinb, Scotland

If China's communist leaders want to destroy Christianity, all they need to do is legalize it and let the inevitable prosperity gospel take over like it has in the United States. Nothing neutralizes true Christianity and the doctrine of taking up the cross to follow Christ like prosperity and peace. True Christianity flourishes when persecution abounds. Christians are like dandelions. When you kick them, they spread. When Christians have no cost associated with their faith, mammon starts looking really attractive and the result is a worthless, neutered Christianity, devoid of any power or influence.

Val, Chicago, IL

Donald Smith thinks that the danger in China is that heresies will sprout if people belong to undergraound and illegal churches. I suggest that the opposite may be the case if the experience of western churches is anything to go by. Where has false teaching in the form of liberal theology been tolerated and promoted but in the older Protestant denominations with such baleful effects on the the spiritual life and witness of local congregations? It is the evangelicals within these denominations and those outside them that have upheld biblical orthodoxy.

Kenneth Brownell, London, England

The danger is that huge heresies are likely to appear in China as most Christians belong to underground and illegal house churches. With no one to control their respective theologies, another movement like the heretical Taiping (whose rebellion resulted in 20 million deaths) could emerge and hold sway.

Donald Smith , London, UK

Praise God! This proves that all Christianity needs to spread is freedom from persecution. China will be blessed. "Faith comes by heariing , and hearing by the Word of God."

Garrett Ward Sheldon, wise, virginia usa

I loved how in the end of the statistics they just said 1-2% Muslim. Most notable sources put the faith equal to or more than Christianity. My point is not which faith has more no one cares, but that the bias is unmistakable and in the end a very dangerous game to play.

elis, london, UK

Ego's in China are as persistent as the rest of the planet. "Pointsof view" are just not willing to accept that they will cease.The promise of eternal life is difficult even the Chinese to reject .
Religion is also a comfort to frightened children.

R.G.Rankin, Keyport, NJ

It's wonderful to hear that China finally has access to such a historically important book. It's up to them to believe it or not, but nobody has any right to withhold the Bible from them.

At least now some of the most committed Christians can stop risking their freedom to spread the word there.

Anna Fruen, Plymouth, UK

The article was great, thanks. I guess the Chinese people are ready for a religion that teaches them respect for others and the santity of life. Communism has done so much for them, murdered millions who resisted, stole their property in the name of the state, limited their ability to have children, while sapping their will to live. I guess some of them remember. The reforms in China will never make amends for the atrocities suffered under the communist terror.

David Ray, Kingsport, USA/TN

After several visits to China I became concinced that if China ever turned ti the God of the Bible, God would bles that nation. It apears that China is turning and God is blessing. Will China become God's instrument in brnging destruction to a Western Civilization that is becoming increasigly athiest, immoral and blastphemus toward the God of the Bible?

God will not long toledrate a society that has denigrated His word and His Christ in ways that are so filthy that it is beyond imagining. God is going to judge America and China just might be that instrument. A nation that has a 250 man-o-war blue water navy doesn't have it for coastal defence

John Burke, New Bern, NC

China and its people are beautifull hope its people don't get indoctrinated and belive this mambo yambo
Shame on the West

e_widiner, shanghai, china

Bruce, you're right they've been doing well as atheist ......democracy and human rights are flourishing.

Hotspur, ATL, GA/USA

Just what the Chinese need: fairy tales and superstitious gobbledegook.

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA