China

Syncretism, Religious Freedom and Revival: Taiwan’s Yiguandao

By Joanna Eva - Religioscope, 9 June 2024

Having originated in mainland China one hundred years ago, Yiguandao is a fast growing religious movement and one the largest religions in Taiwan, where it relocated the center of its activities in the mid-20th century. Today, it exists as a highly adaptive transnational religious movement devoted to self-cultivation and social harmony. Moreover, in contrast with other Chinese religious traditions, the group’s millenarian teachings lend believers a sense of urgency as they carry out proselytizing activities across the world.

China: the list of “heterodox teachings” and the historical roots of the proscription of religious groups – Interview with Edward Irons

By Massimo Introvigne - Bitter Winter, 20 December 2018

In this interview, Hong Kong scholar Edward Irons explains the historical roots of the proscription of certain groups as xie jiao (heterodox teachings) in China, and how being on the list of the xie jiao means being a main target for persecution.

Massimo Introvigne (born June 14, 1955 in Rome) is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of some 70 books and more than 100 articles in the field of sociology of religion.

China: when will five-fold state-backed religious monopoly end?

By Magda Hornemann - Forum 18 News Service, 11 October 2013

The official monopoly over all religious activity by communities of the five state-backed religious headquarter bodies is gradually being eroded. The following report provides an overview of the current situation and developments.

China: Catholicism’s social and political impact strong in Hong Kong, weaker in other cities in Greater China

By Richard Cimino, 22 September 2013

Catholicism has been growing and providing social services in greater China, but the church’s role in encouraging and engaging in social activism and political participation varies in this region according to political and cultural factors, according to a new study by Chinese sociologists.

China: religious revival reaching into businesses and driven by competition

By Richard Cimino - Religion Watch, 6 September 2012

Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity are facing significant restrictions in China but they are also finding new ways to circumvent such obstacles and even compete with each other, according to new research. Some of these new developments dovetail with the rapid economic expansion of Chinese cities.

Richard Cimino is the founder and editor of Religion Watch, a newsletter monitoring trends in contemporary religion. Since January 2008, Religion Watch is published by Religioscope Institute. Website: www.religionwatch.com.

China: Catholics, the Holy See and religious freedom

By Magda Hornemann - Forum 18 News Service, 12 April 2007

The relationship between China’s government and the Holy See has greatly improved. But contentious issues – such as government control of the selection of “patriotic” Chinese bishops and local officials cracking down on the “underground” church – remain. Some of this stems from conflicts between “patriotic” and “underground” Catholics. The current diplomatic situation may also reflect lack of consensus in the Chinese government on the desirability of a normalised relationship with the Vatican.

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. – Forum 18 News Service (F18News, Oslo, Norway) is a Christian initiative which is independent of any one church or religious group. F18News is objective, presenting news in a deliberately calm and balanced fashion, and presenting all sides of a situation. Website: www.forum18.org/index.php

China urged to give official recognition to Judaism

By Ekklesia, 14 June 2006

The Chinese government has been urged to recognise Judaism as an official religion and engage with it at a civic and legal level. The call came during a visit to Shanghai by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Israel’s rabbinic spokesperson for Jews of Middle Eastern descent and diaspora communities.

© 2006 Ekklesia. Posted on Religioscope with permission. An initiative of the Anvil Trust, Ekklesia is a not-for-profit think-tank which works to promote theological ideas in the public square. Website: www.ekklesia.co.uk

China: an overview of policies governing religion

By Religioscope, 9 April 2005

Few observers would doubt that attitudes toward religion in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have undergone changes in recent times. But the variety of regulations and jurisdictions governing religion and religious freedom makes it often disconcerting for an outsider to understand what is going on in China.

Kim-Kwong Chan and Eric R. Carlson, Religious Freedom in China: Policy, Administration, and Regulation. A Research Handbook. Santa Barbara (California) and Hong Kong: Institute for the Study of American Religion and the Hong Kong Institute for Culture, Commerce and Religion, 2005 (XVI+90 pp.)

If you would like to order Religious Freedom in China from Amazon, just click on the link!

China: house church leaders are divided over new regulations

By Xu Mei - Compass Direct, 9 March 2005

On March 1, China adopted the new Regulations on Religious Affairs, first announced by the government in December 2004. The government claims the new regulations are a step towards religious freedom. However, legal scholars say the law is vague, reinforces government control of religion and increases penalties for unregistered churches. The regulations have already sparked debate among house church Christians. Some younger house church leaders are optimistic and say they will register, while an older generation maintain suspicion of the government and are less likely to register.

© 2005 Compass Direct. – Posted on Religioscope with permission from Compass Direct. – Compass Direct (Santa Ana, California) is a Christian news service dedicated to providing news on situations and events facing Christians persecuted for their faith. Compass Direct maintains an extensive network of news bureaus and correspondents around the world.

Toward a rebirth of the Orthodox Church in China – Interview with Mitrophan Chin

By Religioscope, 23 October 2004

While the presence of Western Christian Churches in China is a well-known fact, many people are not aware that the Orthodox Church has also been present in that country for more than 300 years. It has never fully recovered from the turmoils of the “cultural revolution” of the 1960s and its antireligious policies. However, there are efforts from several sides to revive Orthodox life in China. Attempts to revive Orthodoxy in China also take place in virtual space. In this interview, the webmaster of Orthodox.cn, Mitrophan Chin, tells us more about the history, current situation and prospects for the Orthodox Church in China.

The interview was conducted online in October 2004. Mitrophan Chin was interviewed by Jean-François Mayer.