Church in the World

Beijing anxious over religious growth

Asia

Plans to stop the "growth of religions, cultic organisations, and superstitions" and to strengthen Marxist atheism have been circulated around the Chinese leadership, according to a document leaked to a Rome-based news agency.

AsiaNews service says a document was issued to members of the Communist Party's Central Committee by its Department of Propaganda in November. It says the document which it claims to have obtained was apparently leaked by officials who oppose strict enforcement of atheist ideology.

The document laments the "Westernising" and "disintegrating" influence of religious faith, but cautions officials to be "patient and meticulous in imperceptibly influencing the people" away from religious beliefs. It reveals particular concern about a growth in spirituality among young, educated people. The document urges that the internet could be better used as a resource to broaden the appeal of Marxist culture with the young, who are its greatest users in the country. "We shall strengthen the instruction and management over online comments, and make the internet a new tool to conduct Marxist atheism propaganda and education," it said.

There is a need to "eliminate fatuity [i.e. weakness or imbecility of mind] and superstitions" and replace them with "scientific thought", says the document. Educating people in the "natural sciences" is vital so that they can have "the basic knowledge about life, the rule on human evolution, and correctly deal with various natural phenomena, birth, ageing, disease and death". Integrating Marxism more fully into the education system is another focus and the paper reiterates the party's absolute monopoly over education. Marxism must permeate all activities in the lives of the population so as "to change old habits into new ones, conducting people's cultural and sports activities, satisfying people's spiritual and cultural demands, and popularising knowledge on laws, rules and regulations".

Caroline Fielder, of the China desk of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), told The Tablet "Although there are increasing reports of a tightening of control in various spheres of life in China - one area being religion - the issue is clearly firmer control of religion rather than attempts to eradicate it." She said last month a CTBI delegation to Beijing heard a government official reiterate public remarks made by the former president Jiang Jemin two years ago, just before he stepped down as head of state, "when he acknowledged publicly that religion was in China to stay". Lawrie Breen, of the China Forum, which monitors religion in China, said there is clearly a move to further urge those Chinese people who wish to practise their faith to do so through state-sponsored religious associations.