April 22 marks two important birthdays. The first is the 100th anniversary of the the Chinese Bible. On this day in 1919, the first edition of what has come to known as the Chinese Union Version (CUV) was received from the printer. In September of last year, I had the opportunity to edit an issue […]
Be More Chinese!
Over the past year, the Chinese government has ramped up its campaign to “sinicize religion,” — to make it more compatible with both traditional and modern socialist values. In reality, it is a move to re-establish Party-state control over the religious sector, Christianity included. Last month I had the opportunity to co-author an article at […]
The Bells of Notre Dame
Like millions around the world, I watched in horror yesterday as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was engulfed in flames. A building that has stood for centuries, and has survived wars, revolution, and Nazi occupation has been partially destroyed. My initial thoughts turned to my own memories of visiting the cathedral with my family […]
The Year of Living Sensitively
Today marks the anniversary of the death of former Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang in 1989, the first in a chain of events (death, mourning, protest, crackdown) that would culminate in the violent crackdown in Tiananmen Square on June 4. Today’s anniversary, while obviously not commemorated in China, is an important reminder of the […]
Easter Trinkets
With Easter just around the corner, stores and shops are filling up with Easter trinkets — bunnies, baskets, and all manner of spring-themed items. And of course, they mostly come from China; in fact, the mostly come from one city in China — the city of Yiwu. Last month the Los Angeles Times did a story […]
A Minneapolis Smile
This is a great story from the BBC about a kid from Minneapolis who has become an internet sensation in China — primarily because of his cute smile. On a recent visit to the country he was treated like a rock star! Image credit: MPR
