From: rchoy@clarify.com (Raymond Choy)
Subject: Re: New Topic: Chinese Christians
Organization: Clarify, San Jose
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 23:08:09 GMT

In article <eln235s.718893693@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au> eln235s@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au (Mr H Hui) writes:
>tcheung@cc.uow.edu.au (teresa cheung) writes:
>
>>eln235s@lindblat.cc.monash.edu.au (Mr H Hui) writes:
>
>>>teresa cheung (tcheung@cc.uow.edu.au) wrote:
>>>: Does anyone want to comment on why some
>>>: Hong Kong students when they study overseas
>>>: become Christians and join "Chinese Christian
>>>: Fellowships"
>>>: 
>>>: Comments?
>>>At least 2 reasons :
>>>1. Such religious groups are fast track to get contact with people when
>>>   being alone overseas.
>>>2. Alone sometime => lonely and bored.
>
>>Yes, two very common reasons.  But if you one is not Christian, 
>>how can they stand the stuff that they are talking about 
>>(some of the topics are so unrealistic, how can one pretend to swallow it.)  
>>Secondly, don't the people suspect that you are there only to meet people.  
>>Or do you meet people who are only semi-serious about Christianity and 
>>are there to meet people too.
>
>Yes, I agree. Therefore, I have never gone to any fellowship since I
>arrived here. I am too stubbon in religion.
>

I have been invited to some fellowship in the first year of college and
didn't like it too much. One major thing that I cannot stand is that
whenever there is anything that they could not explain, they always said
"You have to trust the God". If you asked the question again, their
face will turn blue and thought that your heart (or Ling Sum) has
problem. 



>However, I reckon such religious groups really (at least here in my uni)
>are efficient in getting to know the new (overseas) students. When I've
>just arrived here, people of some the groups really looked for the
>freshmen and tried to know them. Their outreaching attitude in getting
>to know the freshmen, apparently, makes the religious groups a fast track
>to get contact. (outsider's view)


Yes, the same thing happened in my college. As a freshman who just arrived
at a completely new environment, how can you resist the warmth invitation
from a group of nice people. 


>
>For the 2nd point, living in such a foreign place, I have more time to
>think about what is in front of me, esp., when I am facing some
>difficulties. I think this would happen to many on the net. as
>compared with when I was in HK, chance that a question like "What
>is religion to me?" coming up to my mind is higher. In fact, I think 
>most people feel better with their religions help clear such difficult 
>questions and keep going.
>


There are several questions that often come up from people's mind 
when they have time to be alone for a while. Question such as
"What is the purpose of Life?", "What is after life?" etc. Religion
most often can provide an explanation for most of the answer (whether
you agree on that is different story). 


>-- 
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>Humphrey Hui                      :  Have you taken a risk lately?
>HHUI@basil.eng.monash.edu.au      :  Life is boring without risk!


-Raymond Choy-