Peter Zhao has become one of the most important dissenting voices in China, publicly arguing that Christianity and its related ethical system is the key to economic growth.
Zhao, a Communist Party member and advisor to the Chinese Central Committee, is among a group of Chinese intellectuals who are looking to the West to the find the secret of economic prosperity. He has written more than 200 articles (with such titles as “Market economies with churches and market economies without churches”) to explain his theories of how Christianity leads to long-term economic success.
Zhao, who became a Christian after a visit to the U.S., has so far been allowed to speak his mind about the relation of economic growth to Christianity, even when it comes to criticizing China. He says that whereas Chinese who get wealthy tend to become complacent, Christians have a higher motivation to use their wealth for the betterment of others.
(Source: The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 8)