Claims of religious suppression at odds with reality

By Su Li Source:Global Times Published: 2012-12-24 9:56:31

Western media used to report on Christmas celebrations in China from the "cultural clash" angle. This year they seem to have found a different approach - many are focusing on the unprecedented number of Chinese Christians and their "remarkable resilience" despite the authorities' efforts to "harass Christians, isolate them, try to manipulate and divide them."

Official statistics show that China has about 25 million Christians, a sharp increase from 16 million in 2005 and more than 30 times the number in 1949. Statistics from overseas organizations indicate a much bigger number. Harvey Cox, a theologian in Rome, said recently that China will become home to the world's largest Christian population in the next two decades.

Prejudiced observers believe that the CPC seeks to expel religious groups, whose prominent growth symbolizes the failure of the Party's religious policies.

China has publicly promoted the freedom of religion, which differs from the freedom advocated in the West. The role of religion in China is different from that in the West.

Church leaders can host the inauguration ceremony of top officials in some countries, which would be unheard of in China. Religion doesn't play a role in every aspect of social life in China as it does in the West. There are few disputes about this.

Some interpret this as reflecting the Party's new "reconciliation policy" with religion. But in fact, the Party has long held clear guidelines on absorbing the wisdom of religious groups and promoting their positive role in boosting economic growth and cultural prosperity. It's widely agreed that China has witnessed an increasingly relaxed religious environment in the past three decades, a period of undeniable importance in the nation's Christian history.

There have been cases of local governments intervening in religious affairs. But they are isolated ones and cannot represent the whole picture of China's religious freedom. Such cases are becoming fewer in number. Managing religions according to the law is the trend.

As China's religion develops, some foreign forces want to step in so as to create trouble for China's governance. These intentions are real, while China should remain vigilant.

The weakening of religious awareness in developed countries is a major trend, which is in accordance with the wave of secularization sweeping the world. China has probably witnessed the fastest rise in the number of religious believers in the past few decades. Under the current political system, if the government had suppressed religions, this rise would not have occurred. Friction over religions is unavoidable as they develop rapidly in China. Exaggerating these frictions shows a lack of understanding of China, deliberate or otherwise.



Posted in: Observer

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