China and Religious Liberty
A Wall Street Journal editorial picks up on the subject of yesterday's Buddhism blog post -- religion in China. I have a slight disagreement with the last paragraph.
China's leaders are afraid of religion because they see it as a political threat. Citizens with faith and a moral compass are harder for the Communist Party to control.
My understanding is that what they fear, beside rebellion, is outside influence. For example, in the case of Christian churches, the Chinese government wants these churches to sever ties with governing bodies outside China, such as the Vatican. Faith and moral compasses don't worry the government of China as much as disloyalty.
On the other hand, the spiritual practice of Falun Gong was banned in 1999 after 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners surrounded Communist Party Headquarters in Beijing. They staged a silent protest of the arrest and beatings of some members the day before. Elizabeth Reninger, the About.com Guide to Taoism, has more on Falun Gong.
Comments
Given the horrors China has endured due to outsiders in the past (i.e., think Nanking) I do understand wanting to protect a culture and a Nation’s people. But I also think people should be free to think and feel without concerns of government interference.
There is already enough intolerance in the world between nations, societies, and even microcultures. It pains me to see any country where there is strife between government and religious (or other) freedoms that results in violence.
The article also says “”God is universal, and God is love, and no state, man or woman should fear the influence of loving religion.” Many religions (I wont go into examples) say it is wrong to believe or practice any other religion, because they are ultimately wrong, and their religion is ultimately right.
I see Bush’s statement as hypocracy, not empowerment. Especially since the philosophies and religions in China tend to be interlinked.
One other forgotten consideration here, change tends to lead to revolution.