This week we cover one of the most important historical and political beliefs in Chinese History. The Mandate of Heaven. Similar to perhaps the western idea of Destiny of Kings, this semi-religious pretext has been the cause of Dynasty after Dynasty coming into power. But is it true? Is the Mandate of Heaven real? Does a country losing moral greatness and devolving eventually mean that a new ruler will rise with heaven's blessing? To solve this, we turn to an example of this in scripture and investigate how Judaism has it's own somewhat similar " Jewish Mandate of Heaven." ⏲TIME STAMPS⏲ 0:00 What is the mandate of Heaven?? 1:04 Why has China had so many changes of leadership throughout its history??? 1:40 Can the Mandate of Heaven be lost or gained?➕➖ 2:26 What is marxism????????????????? 2:50 What did Chinese philosopher Mencius about the mandate of Heaven??‍?️ 3:37 What is the Declaration of Independence?? 4:00 What happens when a dynasty loses the mandate of Heaven?? 4:40 How does one receive the mandate of Heaven?⚡️ 5:40 Does the mandate of Heaven justify government changes??‍⚖️ 6:00 Is there any truth to the mandate of Heaven?? 6:12 COMPARE AND CONTRAST? 6:22 Is Israel a theocracy??? 6:22 What is a theocracy?? 6:33 How many laws are in the Torah??️ 6:40 Who is the ruler of Israel?? 7:09 Jeremiah 18:7-10? 7:30 What is the cycle of sin in the book of Judges??‍⚖️ 9:00 Does God care about the morality of kings in a government?? 9:10 Is the mandate of Heaven real??‍♀️ ▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ? What Does the Bible Say? Jeremiah 18:7-10 Judges: Cycle of Sin ▬ About Pilgrimage Films ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Pilgrimage Films exists to bring you with us on the missionary journey. By creating faith-based content for students and families, Pilgrimage shows the often-unseen world of missionaries, religions, and cultures. ? Resources A great English source for digging deeper on TFR! Updated regularly, reach out to us for a current version. Taiwanese Folk Religion - David Eastwood and OMF International https://www.academia.edu/40002011/Taiwanese_Folk_Religions_Examined_from_a_Christian_Perspective To learn more about our mission agency, Word of Life https://www.wol.org ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2jK9XsjioY

Join us @Pilgrimage Films as we discuss the number one reason Taiwan isn't going to get invaded anytime soon! ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poCEVFiq81s

Why do people really make Idols? There are a lot of answers but the most important one is that it gives humanity leverage in the relationship between them and a god. Having a conduit that they build and worship allows the worshipper to set the agenda when it comes to religion. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS ⏱ 0:00 I told you we were going to have some disagreements(Taiwanese Folk Religion Style) Intro 0:43 Christianity does not like idols 0:50 Taiwanese Folk Religion is syncretistic 3:09 Shang Di- absolute ruling deity ? 3:46 We have never found a picture of Shang Di ? 3:52 Imminent and Immanent 4:44 Scapulimancy? 5:49 Paul Hiebert (missiologist) ? 5:56 What is the middle dimension?? 6:31 Christians are very good about answering... What happens when we die? What about sin? How do I live a moral life? 7:16 Idols give humanity some sort of leverage in the relationship 8:40 The gods are immanent but are not transcendental 8:45 Taiwanese Folk Religions by David Eastwood ? 8:59 How does Taiwanese Folk Religion approach idols and gods? 9:00 How do Christians approach idols and gods? 9:30 COMPARE & CONTRAST TIME 10:35 The God of the universe is beyond idols 13:03 Jesus demands worship alone ✝ 14:07 God sets the agenda ? ▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ We discuss the roots of Shangdi and the difference between a god who is in the material world or a god who is otherworldly. Why it's ok in Taiwanese Folk Religion to worship many gods and why in Christianity it isn't. The Christian God is both otherworldly and personal but demands worship to Him and Him alone ?What Does The Bible Say? Acts 17 “You shall not make for yourself [b]an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth." Exodus 20:4 "Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?" Psalm 113:6 ▬ About Pilgrimage Films ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Pilgrimage Films exists to bring you with us on the missionary journey. By creating faith-based content for students and families, Pilgrimage shows the often-unseen world of missionaries, religions, and cultures. ? Resources A great English source for digging deeper on TFR! Updated regularly, reach out to us for a current version. Taiwanese Folk Religion - David Eastwood and OMF International https://www.academia.edu/40002011/Taiwanese_Folk_Religions_Examined_from_a_Christian_Perspective To learn more about our mission agency, Word of Life https://www.wol.org ?Contact Us Jacob Smith - jsmith@wol.org ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFwNFqO5W24

Today we meet Pangu, a hairy giant of a fellow from Folk Religion who is responsible for the creation of the heavens and the earth. Chinese history is full of stories and myths that have lasted thousands of years and weave together concepts like Daoism and folk Religion. Pangu doesn't seem to have many tales but the stories we do know profoundly express deep theological beliefs from various ethnic groups of Ancient China. When explaining how everything came to be, ancient Chinese didn't seem too interested in origin stories of the universe which is why it took a long time for them to appear. At least compared to most nations. Almost every culture around the world has obsessively tried to answer the question of origins and creation but ancient Chinese appear to have taken a much longer time to actually formulate origin stories than we would expect for one of the oldest cultures in the world. Or perhaps we just don't have the orally transmitted stories that have been told for millennia. It'd be unwise to discount that we are missing large swathes of written stories and documents and oral history. There is some evidence that the story of Pangu was recorded around 164 AD but is much older, going back as far as the Zhou dynasty of 1000 BC. This explanation for the Origin of the universe centers on the god of Chaos (The Dijiang or Hundun or as we all know him, Morris from Shang Chi) being cracked open like a cosmic egg. Emerging from this egg is Pangu whose very flesh and blood is responsible for filling the earth. It's a story of the impersonal cosmic energy source found in the Dao. Of primordial chaos and the order that comes from it. It explains the way that heaven and earth became so far apart and the power of Yin and Yang. One interesting aspect about these stories is that they're so deeply intertwined with Daoism. It's possible Pangu is a minor local legend that was transmitted by an ethnic group and entered into Daoist thought. Yet It's also possible Daoism was very connected to the story of Pangu from the start. It begs the question, which came first, the Yin Yang or the egg? My understanding of Daoism might not be the best but as I learn and tackle these ideas I'm constantly surprised how close some ideas are to Christianity and yet how different they are as well. The supreme source of energy for the universe or better said, the hard to comprehend but somewhat observable force, the Dao, means the way. In light of Chinese Folk Religion, what's fascinating is how much we can mine from the person of Jesus including his statement that He Himself is the way. Something incredibly bold to state in the context of the Dao. ⏲TIME STAMPS⏲ 0:00 Chinese Creation Myth? 0:33 Today we are going to be talking about cosmic eggs???? 1:02 What ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Ci-MWcpDw