ARTICLE: Christianity finds a fulcrum in Asia, By Spengler, Asia Times, Aug 7, 2007

During my first trip in China, as soon as I heard a lot of young Chinese describe themselves as the world's largest cohort uninterested in religion, I corrected them by saying, "No, you're simply the biggest future pool of religious-minded people on the planet."

Urbanization is a huge driver: you're removed from what you know so you reach for something new (and Marxism's out of the question!). But so is having kids.

Either way, I stick to my "headline from the future" on China from BFA:

"Spread of Religion Across China Alters Policies, Style of Sixth-Generation Leadership"

China's current generation of young people are, like any youth cohort in a rapidly modernizing country, instinctively turning away from the traditions of their parents, especially in terms of religion. But this overtly secular turn won't last, for as China's first truly modern generation grows into marriage and family, the tendency of all new parents to return to, or find new sources of, religion will naturally kick in. By 2020, China will be a surprisingly religious country, one whose diversity in faith is quite broad. Much like any revival of self-identity through increased nationalism, this largely youth-driven process will mark an accommodation with, or processing of, globalization's modernizing effects--not their rejection. China's sixth generation of leadership, much like the fifth generation that assumes power around 2010, will have been largely educated in the United States, so don't be surprised to see more leaders in China embrace their faith publicly as this generational effect works its way up the political ladder. Over time, demonstrating such connection with the masses will constitute a major source of regime legitimacy, along with--naturally--nationalism. Check out Chinese history. The merging of religion and rule is as old as that civilization.

Overseas Chinese will be the missionaries, the mafias, the traders and the peacekeepers that bring Africa online--right out of Chanda's book. You just wait and see.

Ooh! I think I just found next week's column.

Thanks to Lexington Green for sending this.