NEWS//China continues to rein in religion
China continues to step up its attempts to make religion a tool to promote communism.
At the first National Conference on Work-Related to Religious Affairs since 2016 (December 3-4), President Xi Jinping challenged those changed with managing religious activities in China to pursue an in-depth study of Karl Marx's views on religion. He emphasized that China must align the goals of religion with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) principles, goals, and directions.
On December 7, the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee (CCTSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC) met to discuss how to implement President Xi's directives.
Xu Xiaohong, chairman of the Chinese Christian TSPM, set the tone for the outcome of that discussion. He stated:
churches are expected to leave aside less important matters and focus on two issues, prevention on COVID-19 and the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.
there were many problems with Christianity in the country, including “infiltration” from abroad and “private meeting places”.
Speaking about the Chinese Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement, “It must be recognized that our movement’s surname is ‘China’ and not ‘Western’.”
“Anti-China forces in the West are trying to continue to influence China’s social stability and even subvert our country’s political power through Christianity, and it is doomed to fail”
“For individual black sheep who, under the banner of Christianity, participate in subverting national security, we firmly support the country to bring them to justice.”
Only by eliminating the “stigma of foreign religion” in China’s Christianity can its believers benefit society.
“Only by continually drawing on the fine traditions of Chinese culture, can China’s Christianity be rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese culture and become a religion recognized by the Chinese themselves."
“Only by continuously carrying forward and practicing the core values of socialism can our Christianity truly be suited to socialist society.”
Christianity in China "must face its sinicization with greater commitment, according to the dictates of President Xi Jinping, and must fight against foreign influences that want to subvert the state through faith."
"In modern times, Christianity was spread widely to China along with the colonial invasion of Western powers, and was therefore called a ‘foreign religion’. It must be said that some faithful lack a true national conscience. That's why we say 'another Christian, one less Chinese'. Among the heaviest problems we have to face are the infiltration of foreign forces and illegal prayer meetings."
“For individual black sheep who, under the banner of Christianity, participate in subverting national security, we firmly support the country to bring them to justice.”
Sinicization of religion in China aims to rid religion there of any Western influence. Its goal is to install religious leaders who are selected by the CCP. Under those leaders, religions will operate within the strategies and objectives set by the CCP. China is determined to make religion a tool to strengthen the CCP's rule over China.
Sources: Bittner Winter, Reuters, CNBC, Asia News, South China Morning Press