Church and State
Draft Proposal for a Law of Religion Unveiled
An interview with a Chinese scholar about his proposal for a Law of Religion in China
What Does the Chinese Constitution Say About Religion?
Misconceptions abound regarding what the Constitution of the People's Republic of China has to say about religion. The government trumpets the fact that the freedom of religious belief is enshrined in the Constitution. And we often hear about the constitution forbidding the teaching of religion to those under 18.
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at what the constitution has to say about religion and religious freedom.
Increased Persecution? Do Numbers Tell the Whole Story?
Persecution in China a lightning rod for pundits of every persuasion and a topic of vital importance to Christians who grieve for the sufferings of their brothers and sisters. A recent report by China Aid citing an increased number of incidents of persecution in 2012 and claiming that the Chinese government has embarked on a planned effort to eradicate the house churches in China by 2025 is being widely reported in the news. Headlines such as "How China Plans to Wipe Out House Churches" are grabbing attention and painting a bleak picture for China's Christians.
Beyond “Two Camps”: The Complex Relationship between Official and Unregistered Church in China
Attempts by China watchers to unravel the complexity of China's Christian community often result in a bifurcated view depicting a pitched battle between the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and the house church. Liberal theology, political control, and collusion in persecuting believers characterize the TSPM, while the "real Christians" are to be found only in the house church, a bastion of evangelical faith set amidst an atheistic state that is out to destroy it.
Is China Persecuting More Christians for their Faith?
According to the China Aid 13.8% more Christians in China were persecuted last year as compared with 2011, continuing a trend of increasing persecution that goes back to at least 2007.
Christianity and Regulation in China
An article on a think-tank website in China lays out the current conditions of Christianity and religious regulations in China.
Getting Better or Getting Worse?
Those of us who work in China are often asked if we think that the situation for the church in China is getting better or worse. I have always found that to be a problematic question.
The Achilles Heel of Chinas Rise: Faith
In addition to Christian websites and periodicals in China, there are also academic sites which are writing on issues related to religion, law, and society. One such site is Pacific Institute of Social Science, which aggregates scholarly articles published throughout China. They recently posted a translation of an article titled "The Achilles Heel of Chinas Rise: Faith" by Liu Peng, a senior fellow at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Obedience to God and Obedience to Man
This sermon was delivered at the Beijing Gangwashi Christian Church on May 22, 2011. Gangwashi Church is one of largest Three-Self Churches in Beijing. Established in 1863 by the London Missionary Society, it is also the oldest Protestant Church in the city.
影响中国NGO与社会企业的法治与政策走向
Law and Policy Trends that Affect NGOs and Social Enterprises in China
哪些因素會影響NGO在中國的存在呢?