China has been in the news a lot in the past years. Most recently we have seen them assuring us they could resolve a severe pollution problem within weeks. Then there were all of those toys containing lead. One day we told our little grandson to take something from his mouth that he had picked up off the floor. He said, “Why, was it made in China?” We heard that the media in China to cover the Olympics would have free access to the Internet, but then certain sites were blocked.
More serious than all of this are those matters pertaining to human rights and the restriction of religious rights. In 1986 we carried a few Bibles into the country and gave them to individuals or left them where they might be picked up. Several friends who have visited China, or lived there for short periods, have mentioned the restrictions and the secrecy under which Christians meet for study of the Bible and the worship of Christ.
Here is a photo I made in 1986 in one of the cities we visited. The only news the people got was what the government posted for them. Such censorship is deplorable whether in China or elsewhere. It is based on fear. I was in Bangkok when I learned of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The next few days in Hong Kong I saw marches protesting what was happening in mainland China. Several people had copies of newspaper reports about the incident. They wanted us to fax or mail them to their friends in China.
Men lined up to read the news in China in 1986. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.
We hope the time will come when the people of China will have free access to the Bible and all other information so readily available to those who live in freedom.
Categories: Bible Study · Censorship · Culture · Travel
Tagged: China, Internet, Olympics
Since sometime after our Ancient Crossroads Tour of Historical and Biblical Turkey (May and June, 2007), WordPress has been banned in Turkey.
Recently I checked with some friends in Istanbul. They tell me that this is the message they get when they try to access this page:
Access to this site has been suspended in accordance with decision no: 2007/195 of T.C. Fatih 2. Civil Court of First Instance.
A friend in Izmir (biblical Smyrna) says he is able to access this page. Izmir is our second stop. Perhaps we will be able to post here from some Turkish locations.
I have neither time nor interest to try to explain why this has happened. (It has nothing to do with this blog.)I can say that I don’t like censorship.
Because of this, I have setup a blog on Blogger. We will be posting there regarding the Steps of Paul and John Tour, at least while we are in Turkey. Please go to this URL:
fjtours.blogspot.com
If you have not read our posts from last May and June, please check the archives for those months to do so.
Categories: Censorship · Travel · Turkey
WordPress.com is reporting tonight that the entire site has been blocked in Turkey. It seems to involve someone’s disagreement about one blog that has disagreed with a Turkish author. This is sad. WordPress has 1,348.871 bloggers (probably more by the time you read this). Without me they would only have 1,348,870!
Since beginning this blog I have observed that there are many Turkish bloggers. I think this blog helps to promote tourism in Turkey. Why should I be blocked in Turkey? I suspect that many Turks disagree with such censorship. Hopefully the issue will be resolved so our friends in Turkey can once again see the information we have written about some of the biblical and historical sites in the country.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton is credited with saying, in 1839, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Others have said the same thing, or something similar.
Categories: Censorship · Turkey
