Calvinism may have a brighter future than Pentecostalism in China, writes Andrew Brown in his blog on the Guardian website (May 27).
As China has liberalized it policy on religion, seeking an ideology and ethic for its elite classes, observers have speculated on potential candidates that may play this role. Brown writes that for Chinese elites, Pentecostalism and its unbridled emotions are not very attractive.
In contrast, Calvinism is reported to spread fastest at the elite universities, especially among intellectuals studying literature, philosophy and languages, but outside of the control of officially recognized churches. Brown sees a possible parallel between the developments in China and the situation in South Korea, where the largest Presbyterian churches in the world can be found.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/commen tisfree/andrewbrown)
