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comment by thenewgreen
thenewgreen  ·  4382 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Chinese Atheists Lured to Find Jesus at U.S. Christian Schools
I agree with you, I just don't see how it's not explicit to the parents of the children that this is what will occur. They seem pretty upfront with their intentions. Again, I don't disagree that their intentions are disturbing but still, they're crystal clear.




dublinben  ·  4382 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I'm almost certain that the school would not make its Christian principles obvious to the Chinese parents. It might also be practically inconceivable for many modern Chinese to imagine a religious school, when their country is so strictly secular.
thenewgreen  ·  4382 days ago  ·  link  ·  
You're right, it's likely they have no idea what they're getting in to even if someone were to say "it's a christian school", they have no reference for what that entails. I don't disagree with you, I think it sucks. I just think due diligence on the parents part should be taken. I wouldn't send my child to a school in China without either personally seeing the school myself or speaking to a number of american students that had already gone there. When you send your kid to a christian school, don't be surprised when they return to you as a christian.
dublinben  ·  4382 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Excellent point. I would be very careful about sending a teenaged child to a school in a foreign country.
lessismore  ·  4382 days ago  ·  link  ·  
A little background. For most parents, they think that an American education is supremely prestigious and would set up their child(ren) for the future. With that in mind, they will make a lot of personal sacrifices to do this. In the media, we see a lot of affluent Chinese parents buying their little "emperors" Porches and Tibetan Mostiffs. Those are the exception and not the norm. For the vast majority of those who send their kids to America for schooling, they are pretty much putting every single penny of their savings and then some (normally borrowing money from friends and relatives). Likely, these parents have never been outside of mainland China, with the exception of maybe a weekend trip to Hong Kong. All they know of America is what they see on the big screens and the little screens, not exactly a true portrayal of diverse America. Even if money wasn't an issue, it is still relatively difficult for a working age Chinese person to get a U.S. Visa to visit the United States. For whatever reason, there is this misconception that once over here, these people will not go back and then become a burden of the state.

    I wouldn't send my child to a school in China without either personally seeing the school myself or speaking to a number of american students that had already gone there.

As stated above, more often than not, it is not possible for them to visit the schools for financial, legal, or bureaucratic reasons. They don't have a Rolodex of the alumni of the schools and call them up. Even if the missionaries were to offer them names and phone numbers, it is more than likely that they will only offer up those who will give praise. Additionally, these parents will be extra careful in not offending these missionaries because they are afraid that they might offend and their child(ren) lose the golden opportunity for an American education so the questions will tend to be more politically correct. Certainly they will ask what the environment is like and what is a normal day for the students, but I am sure they will not be told about the constant (stealing a line from dublinben) and immersive brainwashing.

    When you send your kid to a christian school, don't be surprised when they return to you as a christian.

When I buy a bag of sugar from the local store and it is labeled as so, but I find flour inside, I would indeed be very surprised. Mix the language barrier in with the vagaries, half-truths, and outright lies and you have mislabeled products.

thenewgreen  ·  4381 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I like you lessismore, in fact I think you are awesome!! But...
    When I buy a bag of sugar from the local store and it is labeled as so, but I find flour inside, I would indeed be very surprised
. Is such a flawed analogy, I can't let it be. It's not labeled as "sugar"; it's labeled as "christian" and the product is "christian". Have you looked at their website? They are overt in their intention to turn all of their students in to christians... not floury versions of sugar... CHRISTIANS! They are SO UP FRONT ABOUT IT. WHAT AM I MISSING? Where is the disconnect? Christian in ANY language is christian, right?

Also, you rule and I'm a little drunk.

lessismore  ·  4371 days ago  ·  link  ·  
    “Relying on recruiters who do not emphasize their schools’ religious focus, Chinese parents perceive these schools as ’safe’ and ‘family-oriented’ places where their children will get a typical American experience,” she said in an e-mail. “They have no idea how religion permeates the day to day environment. I would no more place a Chinese student in an evangelical Christian school than in an orthodox Jewish school.”

What they are selling to the unsuspecting parents and students is an "American" education, not a religious conversion. Their website say that it is a Christian school, but they are certainly not selling a religious conversion.

thenewgreen  ·  4371 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I think that we essentially agree on this 100%. I think that what the school is doing is wrong. The reason they are going after chinese students is because of the language barrier and easy access to an impressionable and eager audience. It's predatory, no doubt about it. My only point is that with just a slight amount of investigation on the parents part, it becomes somewhat obvious what the agenda of the school is. -However, this is a totally ethnocentric thing to say. It's obvious to me because I have experience with christians and christianity. It would be far less obvious to someone from China that doesn't have this experience.

Still, your claim that they are selling an American education and not religious conversion is somewhat false. This is the second sentence in their "about" section from their website:

    Our school offers a rigorous academic program anchored in a foundation of biblical truth. We purpose to promote and develop faith in Jesus Christ through academics, co-curricular activities, leadership development, and personal relationships.
This seems pretty overt in their intentions to "develop faith" anchored in "biblical truth", right?
lessismore  ·  4371 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Our viewpoint on this is very similar, but I stand by my opinion that what they are doing is fraud. In my mind, it is no different than predatory lending.
thenewgreen  ·  4371 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I don't disagree, it's predatory and you're right that there is likely some fraudulent behavior. When you are under the impression that you are doing gods work, you tend to use any and all means necessary. -Not a good thing.

aside: you sure you don't want in on the NHL brackets ;-)

lessismore  ·  4371 days ago  ·  link  ·  
I wish I can, but unfortunately I will not be able to. As you might have noticed, I have not been very active here for the last week or so. I will likely be even less active in the next coming few months. I will be going on a very long trip shortly and there are a lot of things I need to get in order.
thenewgreen  ·  4371 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Safe travels my friend.
thenewgreen  ·  4381 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Hey lim, just wanted to let you know that I'm stuck at a work dinner. I would much rather be responding to your comment. Sorry pal. Soon I shall!!!