Why did Christianity Fail in Asia while Succeeding in Europe?

Summary

Christianity, the world's largest religion with over 2 billion followers, originated in Judea and spread globally, facing challenges in Asia due to the prevalence of Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Despite early evangelism efforts in countries like China, Japan, and Korea, Christianity remains a minority in most Asian nations. Notable exceptions include the Philippines, with a 78%-90% Christian population, and Taiwan, where 3% of the population is Christian. Factors contributing to Christianity's limited spread in Asia include competition with entrenched religions and cultural resistance to new belief systems.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Christianity is the world's largest religion, with over 2 billion followers globally.
• 🕌 Originating in Judea, Christianity's early spread was primarily in the Levant region, which includes modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Cyprus.
• 📜 The faith expanded into Asia through Antioch, and later through evangelization by Apostles like Peter, Paul, and Barnabas.
• 🇨🇳 In China, Christianity was introduced during the Tang Dynasty, with the first mission established by Alopen in 635 AD.
• 📉 Despite initial growth, Christianity in China faced setbacks under later imperial rulers and the Ming Dynasty's intolerance.
• 🌐 Christianity's spread in Asia was influenced by factors such as religious tolerance, missionary efforts, and the absence of competing major religions.
• 🇵🇭 The Philippines has the largest Christian population in East Asia, primarily due to Spanish colonization and the lack of a dominant local religion.
• 🇰🇵🇰🇷 North and South Korea have contrasting Christian populations; while South Korea has a significant Christian community, North Korea has a small but resilient underground Christian presence.
• 🇯🇵 Japan's Christian population is small today, despite a period of mass conversions in the 16th and 17th centuries.
• 🏛️ Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism have historically been significant barriers to the spread of Christianity in many Asian countries.
• 🌐 Geographic, cultural, and historical factors have contributed to Christianity's status as a minority religion in much of Asia.

Q & A

What is the current global status of Christianity in terms of followers?

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, followed by over 2 billion people.

In which region did Christianity originate?

Christianity originated in the Middle Eastern region of Judea.

How did Christianity spread to the Asian continent?

Christianity spread to Asia through the evangelization efforts of Apostles like Peter, Paul, and Barnabas, who established a base in Antioch.

What is the historical evidence of Christianity's presence in China?

The earliest known evidence of Christianity in China comes from the Tang Dynasty between the 7th and 10th centuries.

Who is credited with establishing the early Christian mission in China?

The early Christian mission in China is known to have been established by a priest named Alopen in 635 AD.

How did the Mongol period influence the spread of Christianity in China?

The Mongol period saw a resurgence in Christian evangelism due to the religious tolerance of leaders like Kublai Khan, who even married a Nestorian woman.

What was the role of John of Monte Corvino in the expansion of Christianity in China?

John of Monte Corvino, a Franciscan missionary, played a significant role by learning the Mongolian language and translating parts of the Bible, leading to further expansion of Christianity in the region.

What is the current percentage of the Christian population in China?

As of 2018, an estimated 20 million Christian adults live in China, which is roughly 2% of the population.

How did Christianity fare in Japan historically compared to its current status?

Christianity had a period of success in Japan centuries ago but now accounts for only around 1% of the contemporary population.

What is the percentage of the population that identifies as Christian in South Korea?

Nearly 30% of South Korea's population considers themselves Christian today.

Why do some Asian countries have a smaller Christian population compared to the West?

Factors such as the presence of Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, limited exposure to the Christian world, and the influence of Eastern culture have contributed to a smaller Christian population in some Asian countries.