Rehabilitating traditional faiths to curb greed.
The green light for religion in China – or, rather, traditional religions – was announced in the pages of the People’s Daily. In an article published on 26 November, Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration of Religious Affairs, wrote that the religions of popular Chinese tradition should be officially recognised for their contribution to the national cause. “We should pay great attention to the eagerness of religious believers”, says Wang, “fostering the positive contents of religion, expound upon religious doctrines which accord with the development needs of society.”
China’s leading newspaper, the mouthpiece of the country’s Communist Party, has provided a clear endorsement of faith, which according to Wang can promote principles such as “reconciliation, benevolence, tolerance and moderation” and engender feelings of national unity. Party approval did not come without specific reservations and limitations. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism are all encouraged, yet there is no mention whatsoever of religions that have developed beyond national borders, such as Christianity or Islam, which is practiced by the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang province, a region reluctant to accept Beijing’s authority.
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Rehabilitating traditional faiths to curb greed.
