That's just a descrption of China's religious demographics, as they stand at present. The world is not what it was. Religion is on the wane. This is a fact. I said I see no reason why China should embrace Christianity to the same extent that the West did. Concerns of morality are no longer the sole province of religion.
No, religions have more followers in the world every year. It may be declining in some places.
You see no reason for why since 1970 24% of Chinese have become religious, but nevertheless they have, and with no signs of slowing growth.
I didn't ignore it, LowDown. I don't do that. I addressed it. I can debate well enough without resorting to such paltry tactics.
Sorry, but I don't see how you addressed it.
Corruption is an ever-present feature of politics and business. China is hardly unique in that respect. It's the nature of the beast. And it's tangential to the issue. The lady claims that Christianity was at the heart of the West's economic success. This just isn't true. I explained why.
Other than a few generalities I don't see how you explained why.
The Church promoted science? Whatever was considered to conflict with biblical literalism was considered as heresy. Religion wasn't responsible for the Renaissance. If anything, the Renaissance was a backlash against religion. Galileo himself was warned by the Church, not to speak in support of Copernican theory. He was interrogated by the Inquisition, under threat of torture and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Which other scholars, btw?
Again, Galileo was supported by the Pope. His falling out with the Church had more to do with 1) the fact that his data was not all that definitive at that point, he over-played his hand. 2) that he made a lot of enemies by being such an arrogant jerk 3) and that he insulted his patron, the Pope, rather severely and caused a lot of trouble for the Pope and his friends in the Church.
The popular story is that Galileo could not convince the Church fathers that there were mountains on the moon. But this is the polar opposite of what is true. Jesuit astronomers of the Roman College confirmed Galileo's telescopic observations and subsequently honored Galileo with a full day of ceremonies. And while Galileo was in Rome for these plaudits, he was given a hero's welcome by cardinals, prelates, and other dignitaries of the Church including Pope Paul V.
It has been known for quite some time now that the majority of Church intellectuals supported Galileo, and that the clearest and strongest opposition to him came from secular agencies who didn't buy Galileo's interpretation of his observations as being proof of the Copernican system. Church scholars were willing to re-examine their interpretation of scripture if Galileo was right, but Galileo couldn't prove it, not even to the more secular scholars. Yet he went on insisting he was right, he would not shut his mouth or be more diplomatic about it. And the rest is history.
I believe in God. I'm not dissing religion, either. But I won't give credit where it's not due.
Religion was not responsible for the economic success of the West. How could it have been? How does Christianity translate as an economic catalyst? History proves otherwise. I don't know why the lady believes that, but she's flat out wrong. The suggestion is so excremental, I can barely find the will to laugh at it.
I explained how it could have been part of the reason for the West's success.
Surely you're not disputing that religion is decining, statistically. Secularisation proceeds apace.
The West is declining. Especially in Europe. And the decline in belief there is just part of that as cause, effect, or coincidence. Elsewhere religious belief thrives. If China went from 0 to 20% Buddhist and 0 to 4% Christian since 1970 that this more than makes up for any loss of believers in the West. And then there is the population growth in Muslim countries, where atheism is forbidden. In India less than 1% are non-believers and there are 20 more million of them every year.
What practical economic benefits does it offer?
As I wrote, relating to Protestant Christianity, a work ethic, an ethos that values industry and economic achievement, and interparty trust.
