Ask a physics student/Baha'i follower/Chinese citizen!

[plarq]

Disclaimer: All three identities are real.

Ask about 1, 2 or all three if you want to.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Did you become a Bahai through your family or move into it from some other religious background?

 

[Mr. Dictator]

How large is the Baha'i community in China?

How does China treat their Baha'i community?

Do the Baha'i generally have a certain view of the Chinese state?

Why did you choose physics, and what focus? Be as esoteric and romantic as needed.

What part of China do you live in? Are there any stories from China's myths and history that occured there?

What is your favourite period of Chinese history?

 

[plarq]

Did you become a Bahai through your family or move into it from some other religious background?

My family are atheists like most of Chinese, although my maternal grandmother had joined Falun Gong once in the 90s, and Christianity recently, due to her deteriorating health conditions maybe. I also have acquaintances who are Christians. I don't have any religious education.

I met my first Baha'i in the university, an Iranian-American teacher, back in 2004. She didn't tell me that she's a Baha'i in the course, but I knew her religious belief from her curriculum. I didn't join their religious group back then however.

In 2007 I contacted her again and expressed my will to join. She gave me contact of other Baha'is in the city where I live, so I joined.

 

[plarq]

How large is the Baha'i community in China?

Very small. Though some of my Baha'i friends claim that it is much larger, I don't take that without a grain of salt. Few people ever know about the existence of this belief, let alone join it.

How does China treat their Baha'i community?

Restriction similar to other religions in China. We're not registered and not allowed to hold public religious ceremonies. All religious activities are family-based, and the size of religious gathering is rather small.

Since we don't have any strong power behind us, the government may be less alerted about our activity, unlike underground Christian churches.

Do the Baha'i generally have a certain view of the Chinese state?

We're secularists and believing separation between church and state. It's OK (and encouraged) to serve the country and the society (as soldiers, civil servants and other jobs), but not involved in political things (no Communist Party officials, etc.).

Why did you choose physics, and what focus? Be as esoteric and romantic as needed.

I'm a science leaning person (and quite non-religious in this sense, ironically), and physics is mother of all science (mathematics might be the grandmother).

Currently I'm doing statistical physics using computer simulations. Later I'll join an experimental physics group.

What part of China do you live in? Are there any stories from China's myths and history that occured there?

Generally speaking, southern part of China. Been in two provinces for most of my life, though I travelled to other parts of this country. Lots of stories related to parts I've been to.

What is your favourite period of Chinese history?

None, I don't like China anyway, but I do know a lot of Chinese history. Ask me about what you're interested in, and I will elaborate.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The Baha'is are pretty interesting in that they are fairly recent religion, but one that features a holy messenger with a very modern outlook on things.

Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, whose teachings guide and educate us and provide the basis for the advancement of human society. These Messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Their religions come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.

Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, brought new spiritual and social teachings for our time. His essential message is of unity. He taught the oneness of God, the oneness of the human family, and the oneness of religion.

Bahá'u'lláh said, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” and that, as foretold in all the sacred scriptures of the past, now is the time for humanity to live in unity.

The Mormons got their start about the same time.

How mystical a religion is Bahaism? Does it have Islamic roots beyond its location in the Middle East?

 

[Smellincoffee]

What does the average Chinese person think of Japan, if you were to guess?

 

[plarq]

The Baha'is are pretty interesting in that they are fairly recent religion, but one that features a holy messenger with a very modern outlook on things.

The Mormons got their start about the same time.

How mystical a religion is Bahaism? Does it have Islamic roots beyond its location in the Middle East?

The holy messenger thing is definitely Abrahamic. Our double prophets play the similar roles as Jesus and Mohammed, etc. However, the Baha'ullah guy was so ambitious that he wanted to incorporate Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Hinduism into his "holy messenger" list. He also claimed the role of "Jesus return" and Mahdi.

It's deeply rooted in Shi'a Islam, and most of its religious concepts are borrowed from Islam. Jokingly speaking, it is just a watered down version of Islam where you can eat pork.

 

[Archbob]

I have ties to the thought police department of the Chinese government. What kind of a reward can I get for reporting your illegal religious activities?

 

[plarq]

What does the average Chinese person think of Japan, if you were to guess?

Less negative in recent years (2008-2011), the nipponphobia is quickly losing its supporters in general populace.

I have ties to the thought police department of the Chinese government. What kind of a reward can I get for reporting your illegal religious activities?

There's no single "thought police" department in Chinese government. The Ministry of Propaganda regulates what you do on media; the Ministry of Industry and Information regulates what you do on the Internet; the Bureau of National Security catches you and tortures you; police rob your house and rape your wife; and Labor Correction Camp secretly kills you.

Anyway, catch me if you can, I got FTL travel to escape you!

 

[Crezth]

Can you describe what statistical physics entails? What's your favorite aspect of physics? Do you also particularly enjoy/have a gift for maths?

Does the intellectual atmosphere in China negatively impact your ability to expand and grow your mind in the context of an education in physics?

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Has the Baha'i faith in China undergone some of the 'merging' of sorts that, say, other religions and ideologies in the country have done with each other?

Do you have any general advice for someone traveling to southern China from a foreign country? Things to see, avoid, watch for, eat, etc? Feel free to write as much or as little as you want, thanks.

 

[plarq]

Can you describe what statistical physics entails? What's your favorite aspect of physics? Do you also particularly enjoy/have a gift for maths?

Does the intellectual atmosphere in China negatively impact your ability to expand and grow your mind in the context of an education in physics?

My research was about phase transition and its dynamics. Phase transition is a quite intriguing phenomenon which involves sudden change of properties of matter. My future research may also be related to quantum phase transitions and other spectacular phenomena. My maths skills are mediocre, unfortunately. I only know undergraduate mathematics, things like calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, group theory about crystal cells and symmetries, and a bit Lie Algebra.

Intellectual atmosphere is less effective on natural science study, since we're apolitical in nature. The only problem is the embezzlement and mismanagement of research funds, which doesn't affect my current studies.

 

[plarq]

Has the Baha'i faith in China undergone some of the 'merging' of sorts that, say, other religions and ideologies in the country have done with each other?

Do you have any general advice for someone traveling to southern China from a foreign country? Things to see, avoid, watch for, eat, etc? Feel free to write as much or as little as you want, thanks.

We're a fairly new religion, and it's generally easier to win converts (though Baha'i members dislike words such as "preaching", "convert", etc.) from atheist background rather than religious backgrounds. Buddhists prefer their idols and reincarnation systems, and Christians and Muslims view us as heretics.

Travel? First, you need a visa from Chinese embassy. Then you need to be careful about mosquitoes, don't drink tap water, bleach every kind of vegetable and fruit before eating it raw. You don't need any special tourist trap, just go around and see the country running.

Avoid street vendors. Find a trusted local guide.

 

[katipunero]

what sort of physics lab equipment will you be using for your post-grad thesis?

do you have any preference as to who your adviser will be? do you like a dude or a chick as adviser?

 

[Winner]

How does studying physics go with having a religion?

Also, isn't it weird for a Chinese person to follow alien religions? I never quite understood why would any Chinese become a Christian, for example.

 

[Nick Carpathia]

Why wouldn't they? Chinese people aren't some kind of hyperrational robots. Everyone has their own set of irrational beliefs, some are just more comforting than others (and let you get out more).

 

[Winner]

I am not trying to be insulting here. I am just interested why should a Chinese person follow a religion that originated in a completely different cultural sphere (Euro-Semitic) and whose main figures look very much un-Chinese.

I feel the same about Eastern philosophies, BTW. So I am interested in what an actual Chinese believer in one of these foreign faiths thinks about it.

 

[NovaKart]

I lived in the northeast of China for awhile. I once met an old woman in the street who talked to me some about the Fa Lun Gong but I couldn't understand most of what she was saying. The only reason I knew for sure she was Fa Lun Gong was because she was wearing some necklace with their slogan on a plastic card. They also left pamphlets in my apartment building once. I would sympathize with them but I've heard they sometimes set themsemlves on fire which is pretty scary and they're against interracial marriage.

About Chinese visas, they're not difficult to get. You can do it by mail through a visa service or you can go to Hong Kong and get one. Hong Kong is under separate visa regulations and a visa isn't required to enter which ironically makes it more difficult for Chinese to visit Hong Kong than non-Chinese.

I don't really understand China's religious policy. I saw some churches there and met a few people who were Christian. Is it just a matter of getting the right permit to build a church? I don't think it's at all unusual for Chinese to convert to Christianity or Bahai. Plenty of westerners convert to Buddhism.

I always thought traditional Chinese religion was a bit confusing. Maybe I'm getting some facts wrong but from what I've heard - there's the traditional Chinese belief that people go to a spirit world when they die which has officials and everything and people even use money which their living relatives burn for them. But with Buddhism there's the belief in reincarnation and some people go to a Buddhist heaven. And if I'm reincarnated doesn't that mean I'm the parent or grandparent or ancestor of people who are living now? Does their burning money and leaving offerings for me help me? Or when I die do I go to a spirit world for awhile and after that get reincarnated?

 

[Godwynn]

Why did no one help Yue Yue?