Religion growing in China despite opposition

Religion growing in China despite opposition

BEIJING — Violations of freedom of religion or belief in China have continued, yet religious communities of all kinds have been growing rapidly. The Chinese Communist Party’s attitude toward religion has reflected the views of Chinese political elites from the 19th century onward that religion is “superstition” and a barrier to modernization. This allows the state to retain the will and power to control religious communities. The managerial approach in today’s China is more practical and flexible than the ideologically oriented approach of the Cultural Revolution. It leaves room for religious believers and communities to maneuver and even grow. The long-term impact this may have on freedom of religion or belief and related human rights remains to be seen. But the future of religious freedom in China is not necessarily bleak.