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‘Watershed’ as China’s rulers embrace religion: Anglican leader

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mwkruse
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From Yahoo News:  'Watershed' as China's rulers embrace religion: Anglican leader (HT: Presbyweb)

BEIJING (AFP) – China's rulers are now beginning to embrace religion in efforts to build a fairer society but the persecution of religious groups remains a worry, the head of the world's Anglican Church said Monday.

Wrapping up a rare two-week visit, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said China was in the middle of a "watershed moment" with many people looking to religion amid huge economic and social changes.

Williams said he noted increasing recognition within the officially atheist Chinese government that religions can have a positive impact in a society where many have been left behind in the country's speedy economic progress.

"It's clear that the government recognizes that there is no way forward on this without the full cooperation of religious bodies," he told reporters in Beijing.

"The church is a vital partner. The church needs to be there alongside other organs of the developing civil society, raising questions and encouraging debates."

Comments

2 responses to “‘Watershed’ as China’s rulers embrace religion: Anglican leader”

  1. ZZMike Avatar
    ZZMike

    I think the good archbishop is being hoodwinked. Sure, the Chinese are open to religion – it’s even in their constitution:
    “Article 36. Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities.”
    There is, of course, an escape clause:
    “No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination.”
    They’ve appointed their own hand-picked Dalai Lama, they appoint their own Roman Catholic bishops – who are not recognized by Rome, and they still arrest underground Christians.
    Is it any surprise that “He did not meet with Christians from underground churches but said he had been fully briefed by people who had contacts with them.”?
    The church (any church) in China is in much the same position as the early Christians were in Rome: Caesar was divine, he was the god to be worshipped; anything else was atheism.

    Reply
  2. Michael Kruse Avatar
    Michael Kruse

    All very true Mike but I think the formal sturctures are among the last things to change. I can’t go into specifics but I know people who work in higher education in China and Christianity is having an impact among the educated and the intellectuals.
    Understanding China is a tough nut to crack for us Westerners and it is waaaay too early to begin making predictions, but I don’t entirely discount what the archbishop thinks he sees.

    Reply

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