Rice Christian

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Rice Christian is a term used to describe person who has formally become a Christian out of the need for survival.[1] It is often used pejoratively.

The term comes from Asian countries, such as India, in which local populations who had failed to grow their own food used Christianity to get food from the missionaries, who asked them to convert in exchange (i.e., if you want rice, become a Christian).[2] Concerns have been expressed both by Christian missionaries and by those opposed to Christian missions that people in these situations are nominally converting to Christianity in order to receive charity or material advancements.[3]

The term is used nowadays to refer to "anyone who becomes a Christian for socio-economic or political reasons of gaining benefits."[4]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Rice Christians.. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898). Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  2. ^ Nancy Louise Rutherford (2001). The TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Student Survival Guide. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  3. ^ Way of Life Baptist publication (2005-07-11). Baptists Tired of Being Swindled by Rice Christians. ChristianAggression.org. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
  4. ^ Rice Christian node at Everything2.
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