Religious Freedom in China

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CHINA, April 1, 2002: During the annual week-long Chinese New Year holiday, Buddhist and Taoist temples across China are always brimming with worshippers burning joss-sticks and praying to Buddha and other deities for good fortune. Come Christmas, young Chinese pack the Nantang Catholic Church in Beijing to soak in the Christmas feel and listen to carollers. Religious books on stories from the Bible or the Quran are readily available at China’s state-run book stores. These scenes of public religious devotion and access to religious information appear to contradict Western criticism of religious oppression in China where the ruling Communist Party is staunchly atheist. Dr Lai Hongyi, of the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute, explained that religious freedom had been allowed since 1979 under a liberalization program. As well, after almost two decades of economic reforms, communism is fast losing its glitter, leading to the declining appeal of official ideology. The people’s inherent need for spiritual solace is also a contributing factor. According to official records, China’s officially sanctioned religions, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity, have attracted more than 140 million followers. Western observers say the actual figure may be higher. However, not all religious activities are condoned by the government, which requires religious followers to be loyal first to their country and to the Communist Party. Orthodox religions and certain indigenous folk religious practices such as ancestor worship are left untamed. But those that fail to register with the government or which link their activities to political issues such as Tibetan and Xinjiang independence are regarded as threats to social stability. President Jiang Zemin has said religious faith is protected in China but devotees must abide by Chinese laws.