Rice Christian
Encyclopedia
Rice Christian is a term used, usually pejoratively, to describe someone who has formally declared himself/herself a Christian
for material benefits rather than for religious reasons.
The term comes from Asian countries
, such as India
, in which western missionaries are rumored to exploit the poverty of common man by converting them to Christianity in return for material benefits. Concerns have been expressed both by Christian missionaries and by those opposed to Christian missions that people in these situations are only nominally converting to Christianity in order to receive charity or material advancements.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
for material benefits rather than for religious reasons.
The term comes from Asian countries
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, such as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in which western missionaries are rumored to exploit the poverty of common man by converting them to Christianity in return for material benefits. Concerns have been expressed both by Christian missionaries and by those opposed to Christian missions that people in these situations are only nominally converting to Christianity in order to receive charity or material advancements.