DanMcGrath

Never knew that before now, haven't seen too many missionaries in my neck of the woods. I suspect that has a great deal to do with the sheer size of China's rural population. Perhaps I'll see a few when I move towards the coast in March.

Proof again that the world really is a small place.

The Chinese government really doesn't, as far as I can tell, do that good of a job oppressing religion. They tend to go after the organizations like the Falun Gong and Tibetan Buddhists for political reasons more than religious reasons. While there has been persecution of Chinese Christians in the past I'm not sure the same hold true for today. I'm not sure how this affects LDS missionaries as I've never actually seen any here where I live, which is near Tibet. Not sure about the rest of China and I suspect you all might have a better idea about that than me. I do know that the Chinese have a view on religion that I find somewhat admirable given some of the extremism found in modern religious groups. The Chinese more and more appear to have the freedom to worship in private. Public gatherings and proselytizing don't appear to be tolerated. I have seen several temples, Churches, Mosques, and so forth in full swing, but nothing in action outside of those doors. Thanks for the welcome.

I'm a current ESL teacher in China. Fascinating country, and I've loved almost every minute I've had here.

I'm an 34 year old American, who lives in China as an ESL teacher and sometimes writer. I've been a life long atheist until last month. I'm not sure what pushed me away from my godless state, but somehow here I am. Something about the decency of most Mormons that I've met in the past has drawn me here now. Call it being drawn to the highest common denominator. I'm not being snobbish, but there really are many quite vulgar people in this world. Mormons have always struck me as clean cut and for the lack of a better word, civilized. Other Christian sects appear, at times, uncouth and crude through their daily actions. I'm not a drinker or a smoker, which is another draw towards the church of Later Day Saints for me. Anyhow, too much to do today, I look forward to learning more from this site.