Being hateful and cynical against people of opposite beliefs is a form of hell.
Being obsessed with finding ways to act against the matters and business of your colleagues is a form of hell.

Although I'm pretty much against what such people do, I really don't think it's that important or that 'dangerous' to young minds etc., at least at university level. It's not like these people have some monopoly on what goes through students' heads. Nationalism everywhere is probably a more dangerous religion.

....and er, which planet did you say you're from?

hey OP, warn your students to wear a jock strap if they play ice hockey tonight!!!

"No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD." Deuteronomy 23:1

@alien, i met a guy whose father keeps telling him he's going to hell because he walked away from his religious upbringing. this is causing him serious psychological angst. i think we don't fully understand to what extent this can be manipulated to cause people suffering.

yankee00, but by going out of their way to make non-Christians feel uncomfortable, and by taking advantage of, and deceiving, young, innocent students who want to succeed, aren't they the ones acting against the matters and business of others?

@Neddy, since they are very much in the minority in China, they don't have much ability to make non-Christians feel uncomfortable. I'm not sure what 'succeed' means. I learned a lot in undergraduate university because there were so many different points of view to listen to. In university is a good place to stop being innocent.
@Magnifico: I believe your story, think this is probably more prevalent in many western and other countries than it is in China. Perhaps we don't fully understand, but think of what happens when one walks away from one's nationalistic upbringing, or perhaps accepts it all and joins the army.
In short, I don't think the solution of the problem is to ban influences on kids who are supposed to be learning to think for themselves, but is to allow more influences to thrive and be exposed to their intelligence, reason, and ability to make choices for themselves.

Alien, in one particular situation, they loudly "bless" students in the office while other, non-Christian teachers are trying to work. They give students "forbidden books" and tell them to "keep it hidden". They violate their contracts, even after being told so. I guess that is what I meant. In some particular situations, they make others uncomfortable.

Once again there is a possibility some of us are talking at cross-purposes here. I'm not against the benign Anglican type who mentions in passing they go to church and think that christianity is generally a positive thing and that other religions are equally valid. It's the hardcore god squad who set out from their home countries bound for parts of the world where they think they'll find easy targets and where they can operate with little oversight. They are led by blind faith, they're highly manipulative and will isolate any student in a class who questions their god given authority. As stated above they sprinkle their blessings openly and leave everyone choking on god dust. These type are deceitful, they deviate from what they're employed to do. Students of all ages whose families are paying for them to learn English, business or whatever are instead spending substantial time listening to a preacher. These types are not educating they are indoctrinating and they will aggressively repel any criticism. They should be confronted and stopped.

Actually, students are incredibly susceptible to suggestions, cults, etc as their minds are allegedly open to sponging up information and knowledge, so it's important - assuming you want to take on something that you can sustain - that you provide a frame of reference for your students.

I'm neither endorsing nor slamming religion - religion is merely a concept (unless one truly believes in deities) - as such it has no intrinsic value in and of itself. How religion is used determines whether it's a social nuisance (like my probably misunderstood or or misinterpreted position on gun control et al opinions).

Like a gun - religion can rapidly become an incredibly dangerous thing when abused.

Christianity is a very westernized religion and forms a very heavy if not rather checkered basis for western civilization and has heavily influenced western culture as demonstrated by the end of year seasonal festivities of arguably Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

If one is particularly concerned about the cult aspects of religions - then look up the signs of cult behavior and educate/roleplay your students on the signs of cult behavior (such as oppressive control mechanisms and behaviors).

As for your practising Christian co-workers - ask if they'd be open to moving their prayer vigils to an empty classroom, as their prayer groups in the lunch room make you feel uncomfortable - like is it ok to be noisy, chatty, farty, burpy, chompy, gum-popping when they're communing with god in the lunchroom? Seems it would be disrespectful if one belched or farted during the conversation.

You should ask them about the life of a Christian disciple (a root word for discipline?). It's admirable to advocate a better life (or in their case, a better afterlife) - but nothing in life is free - so what are the costs of adopting, adapting, or conversion.

Christianity involves a life change - as it begins with a general change of core ideals and philosophies - which will result in behavioral changes. One should identify and count the costs and long-term issues BEFORE embarking on a journey of enlightenment.

Finally, evangelic Christianity - as your co-workers seem to be practising - is part of western culture as opposed to eastern religions - aside from the weekend christian and holiday christian facades. So engage your students on the historical culture of western religion - it's benefits and it's detractions - from as impartial a perspective as possible.

Technically - if you're either anti-religion, anti-christian, etc - it's difficult to present an un-biased perspective - so might even be fun to invite your evangelical buddies for some apologetics (point/counter-point on christianity) within your class (as long as you can both remain civil and remembering the key point is English language and introduction of various western cultures - NOT overt evangelism/proselityzation of your students)...maybe have a tyrannical moderator and set time limits on responses, rules for NOT overshouting or interrupting each other's monologues, etc.

Maybe I'll change my moniker to VERBOSE...it's more apt than the generic laotou...

@nnoble
Actually - I vaguely recall a New Testament scripture (and probably some related proverbs and psalms), calling upon the faithful to be as cunning as foxes (?) blah blah blah.

I came away from that interpreting scripture was somewhat condoning unethical behavior if it serves to satisfy the "salvation of the intended target's soul"...blah blah blah...

But Christianity has a LOT of anomalies as practised. There's an interesting discussion running around that Christ had actually married Mary of Magdalene and had children. New Testament scripture doesn't overtly state he was married - but according to the married advocates - the implications were there (either that, or they were somewhat shacked up, or had one seriously close asexual relationship).