Strange, the Chinese I met have no problem starting a topic in religion. But unlike the western style, they start the conversation about religion with asking if you are in a particular religion (usually Buddhism... quite a few believe I am a budhist monk when I refuse to smoke, to drink, to gamble, to hire a prostitution, and to ordering vegetable, to meditate occasionally..etc) I think the intent in China is as you said, but with added intention that they wanted to know so that they will not offend by accident.
The western style will quickly fall into a debate on doctrine (like a lesson in theology). Something I think Sherman is very familiar with. In the western sense, telling someone I am a Christian is NOT enough. You have to tell them you are a Baptist, Anglican, Catholic, etc.
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For the taxi, it is probably because I speak the local tongue. If I start my conversation in Putonghua, they usually keep quiet for all the way.
But once the political conversation started, it is like opening a can of worms.
[ 本帖最後由 dye 於 2008-7-28 11:14 編輯 ] |