Beginning on March 1, no internet channels in China will be allowed to publish religious materials.

There is one tightly controlled exception: religious organizations that have registered with the government and agree to promote the government’s agenda can publish some materials online.

A summary of these regulations follows.

Regulations

These new regulations:

Prohibit overseas organizations and individuals from operating online religious information services.
Restrict online dissemination of religious content to religious groups, temples and churches and religious colleges that have obtained the Internet Religious Information Service Permit.
Insist that organizations that operate with a permit must teach religious doctrines that are conducive to social harmony and civilization, and guide religious people to be patriotic to the country and abide by the law.
Demand that anyone participating in online religious instruction must register with the government, using their real name.
Ban organizations or individuals that do not have a permit from doing missionary work online or conducting religious education and training, or publishing preaching content as well as forwarding such content.
Forbid religious ceremonies cannot be broadcast live or recorded online.
Prohibit organizations or individuals from fundraising in the name of religion on the internet.
Do not allow foreign organizations or individuals and organizations that are set up by foreigners to operate online religious information services in China.
State that online religious content that incites the subversion of state power, violates the principle of independence and self-management in religious undertakings, induces minors to believe in religion are prohibited.
Threaten that the state security departments will prevent and handle domestic organizations and individuals that collude with foreign ones to use religion to conduct activities that endanger national security on the internet.

The Great Chinese Firewall vs Christianity

Christian organizations, both inside China and outside China, that provide online instruction to share God's Word in China or broadcast worship services or offer mentoring and other kinds of support are trying to understand how these new regulations will impact their ministries. However, from China's perspective, the goal is to totally block any religious content it doesn't control.

Sources: Global Times, Tibet.net, China Christian Daily, Republic World, Washington Times, ABS-CBN News, South China Morning Press, South Asian Times, Mocten.com

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NEWS//China boots religion from the internet