DID IDOL WORSHIP MAKE CHINA A TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERPOWER?

A Christian Apologist’s Response to Some Oni Ṣeṣe Claims About China’s Technological Development

By Evangelist Noah Oriyomi Ezekiel

Introduction: Let Us Look at the Facts

Recently in Nigeria, some traditional worshipers (Oni Sese or Isese practitioners) have been making a big claim. They say that China is a powerful nation with great technology because they worship their traditional idols and ancestors. They argue that if Nigeria wants to develop technologically, we must return to worshipping local gods.

As a Christian, I am not writing this to attack anyone’s personal beliefs. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21:

“Test everything. Hold on to what is good.”

This means we must look at the real facts with an open mind. When we look at the actual laws, numbers, and facts about China, we see that their technology has absolutely nothing to do with idol worship. In fact, the truth is exactly the opposite.

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If China built its technology on idols, then the engineers, scientists, and software developers making their phones and rockets would be idol worshipers. But the statistics show this is completely false.

1. The Numbers: Most Chinese People Do Not Believe in God

• 1.4 Billion People: China has about 1.4 billion citizens. It is one of the most non-religious countries in the world.
• 700 Million+ Atheists: Major global studies (like the Pew Research Center) show that over 700 million to 1 billion Chinese people are strictly non-religious or atheists (they do not believe God or any spirit exists).
• Science Over Religion: Over 70% of Chinese citizens openly state that they trust modern science to solve human problems, not religion or shrines.
• The Youth: The young people who actually build the technology in China go to strictly secular schools. They use mathematics, coding, and physics—not traditional sacrifices.

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2. The Law: Politicians and Tech Leaders are Banned from Religion

In Nigeria, politicians can practice any religion they want. But in China, the law is completely different and very strict.

• The Ruling Party: China is ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has around 100 million members. These are the people who control the government, the big tech companies, and the research labs.
• No Religious Members Allowed: By law, anyone who wants to join the political party or hold a government job is strictly forbidden from practicing any religion. They are not allowed to worship idols, visit shrines, or pray to ancestors.
• The Punishment: If a government official or top scientist is caught secretly worshipping idols, they will be instantly fired and kicked out of the party.

Think about it: If idol worship was the secret source of China’s technological success, why would the government make a law to punish any leader who practices it?

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3. The Reality: China Demolishes Shrines and Builds Police Stations

The Oni Sese argue that China respects traditional shrines. However, the real history shows that the Chinese government treats local traditional shrines as enemies of progress.

• Destroying Shrines: The Chinese government regularly launches crackdowns on traditional folk religions. They have bulldozed and destroyed thousands of local shrines and open-air statues because they view them as backward superstitions.
• Turning Shrines into Police Stations: When the government seizes a traditional shrine, they don’t preserve it. They clear out the idols, remove the altars, and convert the building into local government offices or police stations.
• Instead of bowing to the idols, the government uses those exact locations to station police officers and install surveillance cameras to watch the public.

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4. The True Secret to China’s Success

If idols did not make China rich and powerful, what did? The answer is very simple and physical, not spiritual.

• Heavy Investment in STEM: China focused heavily on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. They train millions of world-class engineers every year.
• Extreme Hard Work: The Chinese tech industry is famous for the “996” system—meaning employees work from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, six days a week. It is sweat and hard work, not spiritual rituals.
• Strict Discipline: Their government has spent decades building roads, railways, factories, and research institutions with high discipline and a long-term national strategy.

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Conclusion: We Need Truth, Not Myths

As a Christian apologist, my goal is to help our people see reality clearly. Jesus said in John 8:32:

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We cannot develop Nigeria by believing myths or looking backward at old spiritual traditions. China did not build its technology through the power of idols; they built it through strict discipline, state atheism, massive science education, and intense human labor.

If we want Nigeria to grow, we must stop looking for spiritual shortcuts. We must invest heavily in our schools, encourage hard work, build infrastructure, and focus on real scientific research. That is how a nation succeeds.