Sunday, October 29, 2006

Book of Books





























Thanks to the work of Amity Press, publication arm of the United Bible Society in China, the Bible is available to the people of China in their native language. There is still some government control over distribution. The Bible is generally unavailable in bookstores, for example and must be obtained in the (state run) church. I am told that in some places, persons purchasing a Bible must give their names, though this is not true in Weihai.
A bookstore featuring the Bible operates on the upper floor of the Weihai Church. Here, access to Bible text is tightly controlled. As in a bank, clerks sit behind glass screens, managing transactions. One may not browse, as in a Chinese bookstore. For us, the Bibles are not expensive-- a complete one costs 25 yuen, the equivalent of 3 dollars. However, they might be pricey for some Chinese, many of whom support families on 600 yuen a month.
I was permitted to take the posted photos through a business window at the bookstore.

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