RELIGIONS IN CHINA SHOULD CONFORM TO CHINA’S REALITIES

RELIGIONS IN CHINA SHOULD CONFORM TO CHINA’S REALITIES*

December 3, 2021

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Central Committee has put forward a set of new guidelines and measures on religion-related work in China. It has answered major theoretical and practical questions on how to view religion, how to deal with religious issues, and how to properly handle religious affairs in the new era. These guidelines and measures are summarized in the following nine points:

First, we must have a keen understanding of the importance of religious affairs in the work of the Party and the state.

Religion-related work is of strategic significance to the overall situation. It bears on the development of Chinese socialism, the foundations of our Party’s governance, ethnic solidarity, social stability, national security and national unity. It is one of the priorities that our Party must handle properly in governing the country.

Second, we must uphold the Party’s centralized, unified leadership over religion-related work.

Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for religion-related work. We will establish a strong and effective leadership mechanism, put religion-related work high on agenda, and improve our capacity and performance in dealing with religious issues. Relevant departments are encouraged to work closely together, so that we can do a better job and maintain the initiative in the governance of religion.

Third, we must continue to develop a socialist theory on religion with Chinese characteristics.

We must uphold the Marxist view on religion. We should summarize past and new experiences and further study religious issues in the light of the developments and changes of religions in China and the realities of our religion-related work, so as to continuously enrich and develop the socialist theory on religion with Chinese characteristics.

Fourth, we must follow the Party’s basic policy on religious affairs.

We should fully, accurately and faithfully implement the Party’s policy on freedom of religious belief. This means we must respect people’s religious beliefs, administer religious affairs in accordance with the law, allow religious groups to manage their own affairs independently, and guide religions to be compatible with socialist society. We adopt a systematic approach to the governance of religion by providing ethical, cultural, policy, administrative and legal guidance through effective and efficient measures.

Fifth, we must act on the principle that religions in China should conform to China’s realities.

Religion must be compatible with the society it is in – this is a trend and law for it to survive and develop. Religions in China, regardless of their origin, should adapt to our social development and progress, and follow new trends of the times. They should work for religious amity, social harmony and ethnic unity. Only those religions that are compatible with socialist society and conform to China’s realities can help improve people’s living standards, contribute to social stability, and promote social and economic development.

Sixth, we must rally all religious believers around the Party and the government.

The Party’s approach to religious affairs requires engagement with the people. Both religious believers and non-believers share our fundamental political and economic interests, and both are the public foundation of our Party’s governance. We should respect believers’ freedom of religious belief, do all we can to stay engaged with them, and patiently address their concerns. We should encourage religious believers to join in the national endeavor to develop China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Seventh, we must foster positive and healthy relations regarding religion.

The Party’s overall leadership, its firm status as the ruling party, and strong foundations for its governance are fundamental in religion-related work. We should properly handle the relationships of religion with the Party and the government and with society, the relationships between different religions in China and between religions in China and abroad, and the relationships between believers and non-believers.

Eighth, we must support religious groups in self-improvement.

Religious groups serve as a bridge connecting the Party and the government with religious leaders and believers. We should support them and help them in their functioning; we should respect them and see that they play their role in managing their own affairs. We should support them in training competent people who uphold our political framework, excel in religious teaching, have a sound moral character, and can respond to challenges at critical times.

Ninth, we must strengthen the law-based administration of religious affairs.

Our basic principles for handling religious issues are to protect lawful practices, proscribe illegal activities, contain extremism, resist infiltration, and punish crime. We must use the law to regulate government administration of religious affairs and readjust social relationships related to religion. We should use law-based thinking and approaches to solve religious conflicts and problems, and educate and guide religious leaders and believers to consciously conduct activities within the scope prescribed by laws and regulations. We should pay attention to factors of instability and uncertainty in the religious sector to prevent small problems from escalating into larger issues.

These nine points chart the course and define the fundamental principles for the Party’s work related to religious affairs in the new era.

∗ Part of the speech at the National Conference on Religious Affairs.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)