On Mar 3, 10:44 pm, al <a...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
[snip]
> I noticed your mention of "religion" here and there. I am not sure
> what your image of a religious Chinese society is like. I know where I
> grew up there was no church, no preacher, no Sunday school, no bible-
> like literature, no Hell either. Avoiding gambling was just a wise
> thing to do. I started playing mahjong at age 15 maybe. No law against
> it. Come to think of it. There was no policing in small towns and
> villages. Criminals could not hide or run away when no vehicles
> anywhere. People seldom do bad things. Never need for confessions.
[snip]
Allan,
Unlike your experiences growing up in China, the following excerpts
from the basic do***ent of the Taiping called "The Land System of the
Heavenly Kingdom" published in 1853 will give you some idea of how
religion and church was viewed by the Taiping:
"In every circle of twenty=ACfive families, all young boys must go to
church every day, where the sergeant is to teach them to read the Old
Testament and the New Testament, as well as the book of proclamations
of the true ordained Sovereign. Every Sabbath the cor****als must lead
the men and women to the church, where the males and females are to
sit in separate rows. There they will listen to sermons, sing praises,
and offer sacrifices to our Heavenly Father, the Supreme Lord and
Great God...."
And
"Within [the court] and without, all the various officials and people
must go every Sabbath to hear the expounding of the Holy Bible,
reverently offer their sacrifices, and wor****p and praise the Heavenly
Father, the Supreme Lord and Great God. On every seventh seven, the
forty=ACninth day, the Sabbath, the colonel, captains, and lieutenants
shall go in turn to the churches in which reside the sergeants under
their command and expound the Holy books, instruct the people, examine
whether they obey the Commandments and orders or disobey the
Commandments and orders, and whether they are diligent or slothful. On
the first seventh seven, the forty=ACninth day, the Sabbath, the colonel
shall go to a certain sergeant's church, on the second seventh seven,
the forty=ACninth day, the Sabbath, the colonel shall then go to another
sergeant's church, visiting them all in order, and after having gone
the round he must begin again. The captains and lieutenants shall do
the same."
And
"Throughout the empire all officials must every Sabbath, according to
rank and position, reverently present sacrificial animals and
offerings, sacrifice and wor****p, and praise the Heavenly Father, the
Supreme Lord and Great God. They must also expound the Holy books;
should any dare to neglect this duty, they shall be reduced to
husbandmen. Respect this."
Dan
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