I mean it’s ok if you can’t because churches now offer chinese classes. The reason being that once again America has forced its culture upon the younger generation of immigrants. The influence of the U.S. has pushed churches and temples to adapt to the younger and older generations by offering chinese classes as well as offering english classes. According to Weishan Huang “faith groups face the challenge of having to change their langages in services or see a decline in their memberships” (448). The Bowne Street Community Church has both an English and Taiwanese pastor to serve the members. Although it’s sad that most of the immigrants’s children lose their mother tongue it’s good that the church provides a way for them to maintain their culture. It is inevitable that the mother language will be lost in a new country so it’s great that they bridge both cultures like this.
One aspect I found interesting was the constant theme we encounter in everything we’ve read so far: community. As Huang states, “The practice and spread of various religions in the ethnic Chinese community in New York certainly reflect the needs of ethnic Chinese immigrants” (453). The challenges of coming to a new scary place lead people into finding ways to connect with others and at times even makes them more religious. This sounds familiar right?
I also liked that they kept a clear separation of church and state. The CCHC promoted a religious and cultural Chinese identity without without stepping into political identities.
On a little side note, I came to the conclusion that coming here legally, provides them with a lot more opportunities than coming here illegally. In fact in the 1980’s “immigrant visas became more available to people with financial resources” (445). America is more than willing to take foreigners in if you will be of benefit to this country. Likewise if you come here undocumented but will be of benefit to the U.S. becoming legal will be easier for you than others. What i’m trying to say is that unless you are a genius coming here legally will provide you with far more benefits.
