Some Features of the Chinese Religious Policy in the 20th Century

Abstract

The article discusses some main directions in the religious policy of China in the 20th century, when China becomes one of the most important global manufacturers and investors. Cultural policy, in general, and the attitude to religions, in particular, change radically with the beginning of reforms in 1978. The policy of struggle against religions, which caused death of tens of thousands of priests and the destruction of temples during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), has gone into the past. Since the beginning of the reforms in 1978 the communist party has pursued liberal permissive policy towards religions. Moreover, the state itself becomes organizer of religious life, investor in religious activities, religious institutions and spiritual education. However, the Chinese authorities behave rigidly when religious activities are considered to be connected with sectarianism, non-recognition of communist ideology, the struggle for self-determination or separatism.