If you are interested in religion and religious matters, I recommend this book regardless of any denominational preference you have. Deloria attacks this type of thinking and shows how academic religious studies have primarily been conducted with a bias towards Western religions. I felt both. Yiwu's book is an intriguing look at Christianity in China through the pre-Communist days until the present. It also takes the reader into the experience of persecution of Christians and what it costs to be a Jesus follower in China, especially during the emergence of the new Communist nation in the early 1950s and then during the Cultural Revolution. Liao Yiwu is one of the foremost banned writers of China. At the same time, he tries to cover so many topics that I never felt as though anything (except the points I will mention in the next paragraph) was really explored in-depth. This is a strange little book. Be the first to ask a question about God Is Red. Most of them did their work in holistic fashion - preaching the gospel and addressing the physical needs of the people. Now, two decades later, as environmental awareness continues to grow, Vine Deloria, Jr., reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibility to the natural world." God Is Red: A Native View of Religion (Paperback) Published September 1st 2003 by Fulcrum Publishing. It is also incredibly moving to hear of the dedication and the suffering of those keeping the faith and spreading it amid great persecution. First published in 1972, Vine Deloria Jr.'s God Is Red remains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate. Vine Deloria describes the state of religion in the United States as it pertains to both caucasian history and beliefs and native history and beliefs. If you are a devout Christian you may not enjoy it. Celebrating three decades in publication with a special 30th-anniversary edition, this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world." Deloria attacks this type of thinking and. You have things to do, children to feed, even work you get paid for. ), but it was a bit of a struggle - partly because it was only available on Hoopla on my phone, but also because I no longer have much of an interest in religion. It's essentially just a number of interviews with various Christians in China, from house churches as well as the three-self church. As humans, we all experience different levels of a heightened awareness. I can imagine that this book is being used in colleges in their Native American classes, and I believe I would have preferred to have studied this with a professor than to have read it on my own, as I would have learned so much more than I had. He is a very biased author, but then that is by his own admission, so that does not bother me so much. You have things to do, children to feed, even work you get paid for. China Inland missionaries played a key role in the expansion of Christianity from 1900 until their forced departure with the onset of communism. God is Red: A Native View of Religion, by Vine Deloria, Jr. (Standing Rock Sioux), is a nonfiction book that discusses traditional Native American religious views, particularly their relation to Western Christianity. He was moved to record their stories in this collection of interviews and essays. And I did the thing where I bought it and then let it collect dust on my shelf for much too long. But the screen…it’s holding you hostage.... To see what your friends thought of this book, God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China, Really enjoyed this. I found these essays fascinating and full of interesting personal stories. It is a demand for equal time, long overdue, in the serious arena of mutual religious respect that the world will need to muster if we are all going to survive. Liao Yiwu is a writer, musician, and poet from Sichuan, China. I agree with the overall thrust of this book, but the "scholarship", such as it is, to back up the claims is at best shallow and at worst absurd. ISBN: 1555914985 (ISBN13: 9781555914981) Edition language: The only interviewee who strikes a dissonant chord is the young guy who's a Christian because it's cool. In this case however, he interviews Christians, who have had a unique history in modern China. The Elephant God - Ganesha, the Hindu god of new beginnings; appears to Shadow during the world tree dream sequences. Truly. Liao is a journalist in China who has been in and out of jail for his writings critical of the government. September 13th 2011 I wish I would finished it before the class ended; it would have given me much more to discuss. In God is Red, Chinese dissident journalist and poet Liao Yiwu—once lauded, later imprisoned, and now celebrated author of For a Song and a Hundred Songs and The Corpse Walker—profiles the extraordinary lives of dozens of Chinese Christians, providing a rare glimpse into the underground world of belief that is taking hold within the officially atheistic state of Communist China. He berates modern white people for "idealizing" Native Americans and in the very next chapter makes statements like, "The Indian does not fear death." Some highlights include: a rationalization of the 'ancient astronauts' theory, a log of how natives have been treated ever since the Europeans showed up, and an overall effective discussion of the difference in paradigm between native/traditional religions of the world, and large modernized religions such as Christianity. The stories of these persecuted Christians were shocking and awe-inspiring. I picked this book up because it is known as one of the foremost books on Native American religion. She said everything I would say, but more eloquently than I could. English. A must read. The author is an intrigued unbeliever, and for that reason he's not always clear in his definition of authentic Christianity. Every Christian should read at least a couple books on Christianity in China for a couple reasons. He takes up each chapter with a consideration of some current figure who is interviewed by Yiwu. But as a writer whose work has been banned in China and has even landed him in jail, Liao felt a kins. From 1964–1967, he had served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, i. Vine Victor Deloria, Jr. was an American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist. Unwilling to let his nation lose memory of its past or deny its present, Liao set out to document the untold stories of brave believers whose totalitarian government could not break their faith in God, including: * The over-100-year-old nun who persevered in spite of beatings, famine, and decades of physical labor, and still fights for the rightful return of church land seized by the government, * The surgeon who gave up a lucrative Communist hospital administrator position to treat villagers for free in the remote, mountainous regions of southwestern China, * The Protestant minister, now memorialized in Londons Westminster Abbey, who was executed during the Cultural Revolution as an incorrigible counterrevolutionary. When he became aware of the the struggles and lives and stories of believers in his country, he saw parallels in their perseverance with his own fight for freedom to write and travel and was moved by the power of their faith. This is a compelling read for Christians and non-Christians alike. His writing is a strong call to the kind of self-analysis that helps white Americans to grow up, examine their values, and shamed-faced ask the questions that have never occurred to them before. Paperback. "The first edition of God Is Red, published in 1972, was the vanguard in promoting the recognition of sacred places. A lot in fact. I will not soon forget this book. He believes that a return by Native Americans to their indigenous belief systems will help bring communities back together and work to heal some problems. The view of religion presented in this book was unlike anything I have heard taught in school (or church). Start by marking “God is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China” as Want to Read: Error rating book. If you need some inspiration for your faith, read this book. At the same time, his thought process seems to be scattered with his writing being at times too abstract and wandering to be easily followed. It's a definite counterpoint to the commonly held assumption that Christianity in China has been a largely negative imposition from foreigners - what this book reveals is that such beliefs are essentially manufactured propaganda put out by the CCP. A great overview of the history (and present state) of Christianity in China, told through the stories of individuals believers collected by Lioa Yiwo. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Yiwu's book is an intriguing look at Christianity in China through the pre-Communist days until the present. Seeking out elders he hears the stories of Western missionaries and their positive influence and the enormous suffering individuals experienced through the years of Communism (and the repression even to today). Christianity is a core topic throughout this work and Deloria encourages even the most devout to reflect unsparingly at the historical context in. Seeking out elders he hears the stories of Western missionaries and their positive influence and the enormous suffering individuals experienced through the years of Communism (and the repression even to today). Angry and polemical. It also details the hardships faced by Native Americans as their country was quickly flooded with foreigners eager for land and other resources. Christians in China suffered greatly for their faith. Liao Yiwu is a Chinese dissident writer and thinker, and in this book, he writes a series of vignettes, mostly based on interviews, of the experiences of Chinese Christians over the past century and a half. The audience would logically be Christians, since the book is about Christians and Christianity in China, but it's written by a non-believing Chinese dissident. God is Red is about Christians, but their stories reveal much broader issues of how ordinary people in China need to cope with authoritarian rule and its tools of repression, violence, and mendacity. He offers an interesting missing piece and alternative history for all that seek to find the truth. I found the history fascinating, I mean who would have thought there was a history of Christian churches in China? Protestant. You may agree or not agree with his writings but you have to admit that this is coming from a very intelligent place. It is not a comprehensive book relating the history of Chinese Christianity, instead it is a personal and journalistic book as Chinese dissident Liao Yiwu comes to meet and know various Christians, both in rural China (especially Yunnan Province) and around Beijing and Chengdu. Native American religion is more space related – there is no sense of end of time, and when a story happened is not particularly important – just that it happened. We’d love your help. This is not the best book on the subject, but it does offer several intriguing interviews from a diversity of Chinese Christians. Instead it seemed to be an attack on Christian religions, and while I think there's a lot to be criticized about the way Christian religions are run, I could read that in any number of other books. This is not the best book on the subject, but it does offer several intriguing interviews from a diversity of Chinese Christians. Paperback. The stories are told simp. Liao is a journalist in China who has been in and out of jail for his writings critical of the government. Not that I don't like the author's writing, I do. “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”. For indigenous people, not just American Indians, it's a religious imperative who's origins predate ALL written records. 30th Anniversary Edition, Paperback, 325 pages. Don't fooled by the title. As humans, we all experience different levels of a heightened awareness. I really enjoyed this book. Perry Link, professor emeritus, East Asian Studies at Princeton University said it best: "No writer does better than Liao Yiwu in revealing the texture of daily life for ordinary people in China. Every single page bleeds, pulses with the blood-soaked and blood-stained faith of that particular humanity in the face and or aftermath of unimaginable suffering and ruthless suppression. The audience would logically be Christians, since the book is about Christians and Christianity in China, but it's written by a non-believing Chinese dissident. These vignettes portray a Chinese Christianity whose relationship wit. 4 (556 ratings by Goodreads) Paperback. Read our Privacy Policy. From 1964–1967, he had served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, increasing tribal membership from 19 to 156. He takes up each chapter with a consideration of some current figure who is interviewed by Yiwu. $21.69. for me this book peaked in the middle then steadily went downhill, like it was rushed or the author really just ran out of stories but had to add more to make it so many words or something. I found the history fascinating, I mean who would have thought there was a history of Christian churches in China? So the tone and perspective is not at all "churchy." An important book, especially for anyone who likes to rock-climb or got four-wheeling. It's a series of interviews in which a (non-Christian) Chinese journalist asks Chinese Christians of different backgrounds about their lives and experiences in Communist China. Honest self reflection is never easy, but for those wanting to delve deeper into sources of impetus to religion, Deloria encourages critical assessment of historical occurrences as they relate to religious expression. Liao offers a collection of fascinating glimpses into the lives of Chinese Christians. But as a writer whose work has been banned in China and has even landed him in jail, Liao felt a kinship with Chinese Christians in their unwavering commitment to the freedom of expression and to finding meaning in a tumultuous society. The red man, he says, offers people a religion of community, reverence for the earth, continuity between death and life, a rich treasurehouse of myth and ritual, and a way of understanding the spirit of life on all continents. Liao Yiwu's book, God is Red, is an account of the church in China, told through personal interviews. God is Red Quotes Showing 1-1 of 1. I can imagine that this book is being used in colleges in their Native American classes, and I believe I would have preferred to have studied this with a professor than to have read it on my own, as I would have learned so much more th. I felt though, that the book could have been linked together bet. Only their story was right. Half enthralling, half aggravating book. Liao Yiwu, God is red: The secret story of how Christianity survived and flourished in Communist China (New York: Harper One, 2011), 231 pages. The subjects in the book pay tribute to the missionaries who first introduced the gospel to their region and demonstrated compassion through their friendship and services; the book's appendix lists several pages of these, many of them from the China Inland Mission. The individuals whose stories were transcribed were (or are) made of a deep, inner metal to withstand any kind of torture in the name of God, true and deep love, and helping each other to survive. Very readable and quickly read. Great reading and left me with much to think about. It's a series of interviews in which a (non-Christian) Chinese journalist asks Chinese Christians of different backgrounds about their lives and experiences in Communist China. I will say simply this, what a profound look at the oppression and suffering of the church in China under Communism and the socialist philosophy. Liao presents their stories with respect and admiration. Not quite what I expected, but descriptive of the more contemporary history of Federal interactions with tribal peoples. While he does not chose to embrace Christianity for himself, he has great respect for the people who have done so and the struggles they have undergone. Refresh and try again. Liao talks to intellectuals, grandfathers, college students, doctors, and pastors to really encompass the Chinese church. You can’t stop watching. What makes the book particularly interesting is that he himself is not a Christian. The way Liao Yiwu is able to depict everyday life, but also represent the undercurrent of change, from Communism to a more modern pseudo-Communism, which puts profit first, is a valuable tool that should not be overlooked. Preview — God is Red by Liao Yiwu. © 2021 Goodreads Inc These essays cover Catholism, Protestants, state and house churches plus moving testimonies of commitment and survival. Whether this is a function of Goodreads being an American company and consequently used by more Americans or a function of the publishing industry which favors these kinds of books, thus relatively limiting the availability of books by authors of color, for example, is unknown. What I got was a compilation of stories of 18 individuals, all but one a devout Christian, who lived through the Japanese occupation, the civil war, and the persecutions brought on my the communist regime. This ultimately triumphant tale of a vibrant church thriving against all odds serves as both a powerful conversation about politics and spirituality and a moving tribute to Chinas valiant shepherds of faith, who prove that a totalitarian government cannot control what is in peoples hearts. The idea that the Christian church is growing significantly in Communist China is a somewhat unbelievable claim. people interested in native american issues, indigenous people, religion, the environment, I put this on the back burner, as it's not exactly "read for 10 minutes before bed" material, but it has given me many new things to think about. In the end the author is again on the run from the law for speaking the. Deloria encourages critical dialogue with thought provoking alternative theories to many timely religious topics and debates which are more relevant today than ever. Post-martyrdom. Protestant and Catholic stories are mixed together, the greater difference in the author's mind being between state run churches and the independent house churches (there is also a hint of difference between those adopting Christianity now as Western affectation versus those who have been faithful through the horrors of the 20th century). Liao Yiwu's book God Is Red: The Secret Story of How Christianity Survived and Flourished in Communist China bears beautiful and tragicomic witness to this relatively small group of people often oppressed and ostracized and overlooked--that is, seemingly unimportant and irrelevant according to market currency--in modern Chinese history as officials would tell it. Second, it will help us appreciate our hubristic Anglo-American interpretation of our faith. Not quite what I expected, but descriptive of the more contemporary history of Federal interactions with tribal peoples. When she has the chance, she gladly plays with God's creations and pleasures her self in their sufferings. Honestly, read allison's earlier review below. In fact, hed been taught that religion was evil, and that those who believed in it were deluded, cultists, or imperialist spies. This world needs more people who are willing to listen to others experiences and respect them as human beings even if they do not agree. It is time again to listen to … In the end the author is again on the run from the law for speaking the truth and his mind. God bless him! The book discusses persecution, famine, and other grizzl. God is Red is fresh as ocean air, laden with honest introspection uncommon in books treading religion. I started reading this book while taking a comparative religions class. Please advice what to do about it? I liked these interviews with Chinese Christians, though really wish that Liao Yiwu had taken the time to pull them together in some coherent way, especially at the end, where the book just peters out. We hear so much these days about the awful things that faith drives people to do, and this book was nothing like that. Celebrating three decades in publication with a special 30th anniversary edition, this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no repsponsibilities to the natural world." Start by marking “God Is Red: A Native View of Religion” as Want to Read: Error rating book. In some chapters he seems to include all American indigenous peoples in his scope (i.e. Not that I don't like the author's writing, I do. In this book he relates what he has learned through talking to many different Chinese Christians. He describes the way that the Christian religion has failed the earth and is now failing people and the ways in which tribal religions are better able to help people live good and fulfilling lives in harmony with each other and with the planet. Like Corpse Walker, his earlier book, he interviews people about their experiences, largely with the Communist government. We should note as well the extent of what our brothers and sisters in Christ outside of the Western world suffe. You just have to read it and engage every idea that is presented. I imagine there is so much mor. If you are a "normal" Christian, you may be a little shocked, or at least surprised. Many of Christianity's basis assumptions are suspect. Shadow eventually realizes Ganesha's role is to remove obstacles, and that his cryptic message to 'look in the trunk' is in fact a clue to the location of Alison McGovern's body. Deloria has some painfully valid points, but he throws the baby out with the bath water along with the tub, shampoo and shower curtain. The rest of us are aliens! or else that contrast doesn't make sense. In God is Red, Chinese dissident journalist and poet Liao Yiwu—once lauded, later imprisoned, and now celebrated author of For a Song and a Hundred Songs and The Corpse Walker—profiles the extraordinary lives of dozens of Chinese Christians, providing a rare glimpse into the underground world of belief that is taking hold within the officially atheistic state of Communist China. Refresh and try again. If you are a law student, Native American (American Indian) Studies Major, or highly political, you should read this book. Liao acknowledges that he is not a believer, which makes his investigation and creation of this book more an added layer of inquiry and/or spiritual journey by an outsider. God is red by Vine Deloria, Vine Deloria Jr., Leslie Silko, George E. Tinker, 2003, Fulcrum Pub. On the other hand much of the content is anything but light reading. Great book. He argues that Native American religious belief is based on a strong connection to place, while many other belief systems emphasize history (especially Christianity, but he also mentions many other major religions). It was made clear that Native American spiritual beliefs are tied to the land and once separated from it the culture suffers. Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2013. He was moved to. But the Christians, instead of listening, objected and exclaimed that the story was wrong and false. Vermillion, SD 57069-2390 The major serious problem with the book is that it is so dated.When thefirst edition came out Predicaments, Pragmatics, and Professionalism: about 20 years ago, itwas up to date, at the height Ethical Conduct inArcheology. I love the down to earth stories told by everyday people. He is a very biased author, but then that is by his own admis. Written by of the most subversive writers in China, Liao Yiwu, this book on Christians in contemporary China was a thought-provoking read most of the way through. "God is Red: A Native View of Religion" by Vine Deloria is a non-fiction work detailing the origin, history and doctrine involved in the Indian tribal culture. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious 2012 Peace Prize awarded by the German Book Trade and the Geschwister-Scholl-Preis. His characters walk off the page and into your heart. I don't deny the horrors that American Christianity has brought upon the First Peoples, but I do resent Deloria's assumption that Christianity is merely the sum of its worst adherents. This book is utterly mind-blowing. There are now seventy million practicing Christians in China. Their strength of character is unforgettable. Some of the sentiments, of course, were beautiful and real, and I appreciate this book for saying all of that. Liao's has compiled interviews with Chinese Christians from Catholic, Protestant, underground and Three Self churches. This book is only about the litagation the 652 federally recognized tribes have used to obtain the rights they deserve. I'm going to reread this once I've finished because it has given me so many things to reflect upon. $20.49. In short, it has failed to save humanity, but has actually contributed to deep flaws within contemporary life. There is a feeling people have when they find and accept Christianity as their chosen religion. 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