This posted by Just the Messenger at the blog Shepherd's Pie

March 26, 2008
No Bibles at Beijing Olympics?

http://pieceofshepherdspie.blogspot.com/2008/03/no-bibles-at-beijing-olympics.html

Beijing, Oct. 12, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Chinese government reportedly will not allow visitors to bring religious objects such as rosary beads or holy water when they travel to Beijing for the Olympic Games next year.

The report on restrictions did not clearly indicate whether visitors would be allowed to bring Bibles into China. Nor was there any indication whether the host nation would allow Olympic teams to bring chaplains-- a practice that many countries have followed regularly. http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54133

Boy, if this report is accurate, I can't imagine the behind-the-scenes arguments that are going to happen; President Bush has been active in insisting that China back off its systematic hunting down, torturing and execution of Christians. If China insists upon this ban, it will be interesting to see the reaction from athletes, never mind tourists. Amazing bit of audacity. . .I suppose the Chinese government is afraid we will influence their population, which is no doubt practicing Christianity behind closed doors anyway - since Christianity has been present in China since the early 7th century.

Other sources are indeed reporting that Bibles will be banned at the ceremonies and in the Olympic Village http://www.christiantoday.com/article/china.bans.bibles.from.2008.olympics/14452.htm as well as the sporting of any Christian symbols. Does this mean that an athelete - already forbidden to have a Bible with him or her - cannot so much as wear a cross around the neck?

It is interesting that although the Chinese government insists that there are a mere 14 million of the 1.3 billion Chinese are practicing Christians, independent estimates suggest that the true figure is upwards of 54 million, and may be as high as 130 million, as of 2007.

Reports from inside the closed society reveal a marked increase in persecution of Christians in the last decade. The New York Times reported in a 2002 article: "One of the ironies of Christianity in China is that in the first half of the 20th century, thousands of missionaries proselytized freely and yet left a negligible imprint. Yet now, with foreign missionaries banned and the underground church persecuted, Christianity is flourishing in China with tens of millions of believers."

We are lazy, aren't we? Free to worship as we please, we often neglect it...at least in the formal sense. I know I do. I do think that - with the world as it is, and the rise of radical Islam in Europe - that one day we will be forced to stand up for what we believe as we never have been asked to before.

At any rate, as the Olympics approach, it ain't gonna be pretty, Folks.
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Thanks to the folks at Shepherd's Pie. Hmmm....I wonder if there will be any ban on Korans and headscarves. . . I would guess NOT.

At any rate, it is certainly interesting to think about the rammifications, should the Chinese follow through with this.