Christian Mystery: A Chinese Tale, Found in the Portfolio of a Portuguese Friar

"Christian Mystery: A Chinese Tale, Found in the Portfolio of a Portuguese Friar" by Anonymous is an early 19th-century story that looks at the difficult parts of Christian ideas through the eyes of a traveler meeting wise locals. The story focuses on what religious belief really means and the problems with the basic rules of Christianity. The main character, lost in a strange place, talks with the locals about God, the Trinity, and Jesus, questioning the confusing parts of Christian teachings and their history. Through these talks, the story criticizes the complicated and conflicting ways religion is understood, leading the main character to understand the dangers of strict beliefs and the importance of logical thinking, ending with a wish to go back to a simpler way of seeing the world, free from the 'abominable European prejudices' that confuse clear thinking.