Have you ever wondered about the odd way in which American missionaries flood into Yunnan? Yunnan is host to the largest SIL office in China and also the largest concentration of missionaries. American missionaries. And they are working with quite intensity along the China - Myanmar - Lao border areas. Maybe its just good fun or could it be putting in place a very subtle command and control structure in the very EXACT region that is China's gateway to Myanmar and the Indian Ocean? But that is not my question. My question is, if this is the goal, if this is the real driving force (which many mission workers may have never thought of or even know they are a part of) is it unethical to be "evangelizing" an area, a people, when in fact its really about global strategy? Is it a violation of ethics? Further, if it is the case, does it then matter whether you eliminate the culture or not, as long as you take control of them by means of religious control? A pastor in each village, a regional head or two, a head in the nearest big town, a head in Jing Hong, a head director in Kunming, command and control. Something happens in one area and you can call someone and find out exactly what did happen and when. Any event is 15 minutes from an American "phone booth" to report in. Combine that with the same command and control structure in Myanmar along the border in ethnic regions and you have nearly an American border do you not? Much more attention paid to that one than the one near Mexico.

(which many mission workers may have never thought of or even know they are a part of).

Most are good people and they truly believe they are doing good because they do not see the big picture. Same with MOST NGOs.

I could understand the ignorance 20 years ago but there is no reason for it now with so much info out there on these topics. Most just hide their heads in the sand and willingly refuse to see the Big picture and the unethical, illegal and immoral things being done in their names.

I think it's also a pattern where missionaries tend to target marginalized groups. Being on the margins of a society, or being in deep poverty, tend to make people more receptive to these things.

There is definitely a geopolitical connection, but it may not be part of some contemporary strategy. Many Western countries came to Yunnan looking for a fabled "back door" into China, where they would be able to skip Canton altogether and get more direct access to China.

Historically, missionaries have always followed on the heels of conquest, and often preceded it, laying the path and collecting valuable information, while also serving as translators for the colonizers.

This happened in Yunnan in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Now, there are tons of Christian communities in Yunnan, and the missionaries have come back to reconnect and expand their soul harvests

Europe was doing it in the 19th century, America are doing it in the 21st century.

Shows how backwards America is in some ways.

Most translations of the bible don't mention anything about "preservation of culture". Evangelists are focused on the preservation of the intangible soul, in the afterlife, where there is only ONE cult....ure.

Cultural preservation is at best a dubious and argumentative term. For example, nobody wants to "preserve" the culture of pigmy headhunters.

Yunnan has minority groups that were evangelized decades (centuries?) ago - there's one ethnic minority that has a choral group that can still professionally (?) sing (bach? hayden?) ode or something like that...in english...or was it german? latin? can't remember.

Christianity, like most religions, flourishes under oppression - that's why the use of religion in politics and war is referred to as the "evil cult strategy" in traditional Chinese military strategies - the cult lives on long after it served its purpose, long after the founder(s) have perished, and in many cases, becomes the primary antagonist of the original progenitors cum institutional government...not that I'm labeling (or not labeling) Christianity as a cult or an evil cult.

The key is to take the best and most positive features of cults and integrate them into one's cult....ure, to make the world we live in today, a better place for all, and an even better place for all tomorrow.

"Religion is the heart of a heartless world, the soul of soulless conditions, the cry of the oppressed creature. It is the opium of the people." - K. Marx
I think the full quote, rather than just the last line, which is what you often get, presents the concept a lot better. Merely taking up or throwing off religion doesn't get to the root of things.

Religion is Poison pure and simple.

If so, do you think religious belief is merely a product of a lot of words? I think there's more involved, both in the production and in its acceptance. Xiefei points out one way this happens - marginalization. There are others.

There a movie called "The man from earth". Watch it if you haven't. They have it on PPTV.
Religion is a product of those who which to control the masses. Think about it for a minute. If you have no religion then you only have your conscience and moral compass to guide you. Religion use mostly fear. Fear that a God or deity will punish you if you don't follow this or that. Try to live right and treat people well. Hopefully things will go well for you too. It's a gamble but better then following some ancient book(s).

watching this movie so far its interesting