The Issue of Religious Freedom in China - Essay Example

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Introduction Religious freedom not only concerns the freedom of the religious belief, but also freedom of the religious practice which should include education as well as social services. Lack of Religious Freedom is a major issue of concern in China. Therefore, inadequate provision of property rights for religious communities hinders the realization of the genuine religious freedom in China. From the People’s Republic of China point of view, it is quite clear that the perception of religious freedom is only limited to worship, and thus so much circumscribed and subjected to the government control. Although in China people of good faith have positively begun to play social roles in modernization of society, it is relevant to argue that such group of people could do it more effectively if given freedom. Violation of religious freedom is perceived to be the coercive restrictions on individual and community liberty to belief as well as practice their respectively chosen faith. A vast range of measures and system restrict the religious freedom, such as national and local government as well as majority of the religious groups (Welton & Barry 64). State control of the religious sites is also a hindrance to realization of religious freedom in China. The constitution of China provides that there must be freedom of religion yet religious sites are not registered so as to be considered legal. It is quite clear that for a service or group to be legal, they have to be registered as away to control conscience. This should be the facto control of the religious freedom by Chinese government. Lack of the property rights for the religious communities proves to be a major obstacle to the achievement of true religious freedom in China. It is only through the State Council’s 2004 the Regulations on Religious Affairs Law where the government through the religious affairs agencies can the establishment of religious sites be approved. Still, after overcoming such hurdles, the control over the religious sites by the religious communities remains precarious (Qianfan & Yingping 28). Over the past 30 years though China has experienced spiritual awakening that led to rapid increase in religious adherents, it has been reported that the rate at which the number of legal religious sites have increased has not been up to the required pace. Religious groups have little voice particularly on issues that concern their interests. Limited locations of religious sites are an intermediary factor that hinders religious freedom in China (Cox 161). This implies that religious groups in China do not have the capability to control their religious resources, an issue related to property rights. It is arguable that the government of China seeks to develop strict measures against the practice religious practices to maintain government sanctioned institutions as well as establish registered avenues of worship. Thus, having full control over the context activities involved in by the religious group. Marketing of Religious sites as a solution to the problem of lack of Religious Freedom in China The issue of religious shortage can be adequately addressed so as to prevent much social discontent only if the state allows the religious groups to have genuine control over their religious sites. Therefore, listing the religious sites, for instance, Buddhist on stock markets would work to enable the ordinary people voice their displeasure. It would important for the Chinese state to address the fundamental issue of control of the religious venues in a more satisfactory manner as a way to prevent more content (Forum 18) The Chinese state needs to free the religious leaders by allowing them exercise superior power over their religious sites. Since the intermediary factors causing lack of religious freedom in China is the limited number of the religious sites, it would be important for the government of China to allow free establishment of religious sites both domestically and internationally so as to solve the problem of inability among the religious groups to have full control over religious resources. This being an issue concerned with property rights, the state should be advised to address the issue of religious limitation adequately by taking the necessary steps to equally empower the religious groups assumes the genuine control over the available religious sites (Schafer 407). However, effective marketing of the religious sites will be achieved only if relevant reforms will be considered on the media used to advocate for those sites. For example, the self-censorship within the Chinese media suggests that cautious attitude is reflected among the state officials. As a result, the people of China are not able to obtain the most reliable information so as to form self-opinions regarding religious individuals, groups as well as ideas that the Chinese state may seem to be hostile to. Falun Gong system of spiritual movement and the Shouwang, a Protestant church within the capital city of Beijing is a case in point. Media reforms should be a required if real and lasting developments are to be achieved in realization of Chinese religious freedom (Hornemann, 2012). This clearly indicates how increasingly bleak the future of the religious freedom in China would be if no measures are taken to promote free ownership of religious sites by religious leaders. In considering the best solution to the problem of lack of freedom among religious believers in China, it should be noted that the major challenge facing religious groups, for example, Catholics and Buddhists is the government of China’s taking full control over the religious communities (Liu 2012). Justification of Marketing Religious sites as a solution to Lack of Religious Freedom in China The problem of inadequate legitimate religious sites in China implies that most Chinese religious believers are unwillingly made to accept the status quo. The Protestant house churches that would have been the alternative avenues are instead becoming highly risky, a case for the Buddhist and Daoism practitioners. It is quite clear that a number of the religious believers have limited choices to make and continuously attend the legitimate religious sites for worship even in cases where they may seem to be opposing some practices their managers may be involved. Based on the economic and political perspective and in regard to this religious issue, it is clearly indicated that the religious believers in China do not possess the voice nor exit options. However, they are making all efforts in the parameters set by the government officials. It should be noted that in such circumstance, the religious believers cannot achieve all they intend to receive in their spiritual quest. Therefore, it is relevant to argue for the need to allow the religious sites be marketed freely rather being under the legitimate control of the Chinese government so as to promote religious freedom in China (Qianfan & Yingping 32). Religious interests need to be well-respected the Chinese party-state rather than being ignored as it is the case with China’s central government's State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) institutional weakness. It would be important for the local government officials to develop a compelling feeling so as to be in consultation with the religious leaders prior to taking actions that may impact religious interests, and thus enhancing religious freedom not only in China but across the world (Inboden 2). Freeing religious assets rather than leaving them under the government control will work to solve the problem of deciding who should have control over religious sites-is it the religious group or the government officials. Definitely, this will grant the religious groups with the opportunity to become legitimate owners of the religious sites. It can be argued that clarification of the property rights is an important idea that would encourage the preservation of religious integrity of worshiping sites (Schirrmacher 114). Listing of the religious sites, for instance, Buddhist on stock markets if well-implemented would instantly and widely advance the religious freedom in China. This implies that through such a measure and manner of marketing the religious sites, religious freedom would be significant not only to the religious communities and the individual believers, but also good for the entire. It is relevantly arguable that the freedom to belief is part of the religious freedom, and thus the freedom to practice the religion in China should be considered a vital issue not only in China but of global concern (Liu 2012). Conclusion Based on the above defined problem and justification to the proposed solution to lack of religious freedom in China, it can be concluded that true religious freedom can be said to be fully achieved if religious communities would be having full control over religious sites. Religious groups need to be freely able to organize themselves in a more independent manner, and thus should be involved in social welfare as way to religious democracy. State control of the religious sites is a major hindrance to realization of religious freedom in China. The issue of religious limitation needs to be adequately addressed so as to prevent much social discontent. However, this can only be achieved if the state allows the religious groups to have genuine control over their religious sites. It is significant that the religious sites should be marketed freely rather being under the legitimate control of the Chinese government as a way to promote religious freedom in China. The ability of the government of China’s taking full control over the religious communities proves to be the major challenge facing religious groups. Works Cited Cox, Lawrence. ‘Freedom of Religion in China’. Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal. Vol. 8, No. pp.161. 2 spring 2007. Forum 18, China. ‘The marketing of religious sites’. 2012. Accessed online from, Hornemann, Magda. ‘CHINA: The media, popular opinion and religious freedom’. The Forum 18 News Service, Oslo, Norway. 2012. Accessed online from, Inboden, William, ‘Religious Freedom and National Security’, Policy Review, No.175, p.2. 2012 Liu, Peng. ‘The Chinese Communist Party must guarantee religious freedom to save itself’. 2012. Accessed online from, Schafer, Heinrich, ‘The Janus face of Religion: On the Religious Factor in “New Wars”’, Numen, Vol.51, No.4, 2004, pp.407-411. Schirrmacher, Thomas. ‘Religious Liberty Partnership’. International Journal for Religious Freedom. Vol.2, No.1, 2009.pp. 13-140. Qianfan, Zhang & Yingping, Zhu. ‘Religious Freedom and Its Legal Restrictions in China’. Publication-Brigham Young University Law Review. Vol. 20, No. 3. Pp. 22-35. 2011. Welton, Gaddy & Barry, Lynn. First Freedom First: A Citizen's Guide to Protecting Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State. Beacon Press. 2008. Read More

Therefore, listing the religious sites, for instance, Buddhist on stock markets would work to enable the ordinary people voice their displeasure. It would important for the Chinese state to address the fundamental issue of control of the religious venues in a more satisfactory manner as a way to prevent more content (Forum 18) The Chinese state needs to free the religious leaders by allowing them exercise superior power over their religious sites. Since the intermediary factors causing lack of religious freedom in China is the limited number of the religious sites, it would be important for the government of China to allow free establishment of religious sites both domestically and internationally so as to solve the problem of inability among the religious groups to have full control over religious resources.

This being an issue concerned with property rights, the state should be advised to address the issue of religious limitation adequately by taking the necessary steps to equally empower the religious groups assumes the genuine control over the available religious sites (Schafer 407). However, effective marketing of the religious sites will be achieved only if relevant reforms will be considered on the media used to advocate for those sites. For example, the self-censorship within the Chinese media suggests that cautious attitude is reflected among the state officials.

As a result, the people of China are not able to obtain the most reliable information so as to form self-opinions regarding religious individuals, groups as well as ideas that the Chinese state may seem to be hostile to. Falun Gong system of spiritual movement and the Shouwang, a Protestant church within the capital city of Beijing is a case in point. Media reforms should be a required if real and lasting developments are to be achieved in realization of Chinese religious freedom (Hornemann, 2012).

This clearly indicates how increasingly bleak the future of the religious freedom in China would be if no measures are taken to promote free ownership of religious sites by religious leaders. In considering the best solution to the problem of lack of freedom among religious believers in China, it should be noted that the major challenge facing religious groups, for example, Catholics and Buddhists is the government of China’s taking full control over the religious communities (Liu 2012). Justification of Marketing Religious sites as a solution to Lack of Religious Freedom in China The problem of inadequate legitimate religious sites in China implies that most Chinese religious believers are unwillingly made to accept the status quo.

The Protestant house churches that would have been the alternative avenues are instead becoming highly risky, a case for the Buddhist and Daoism practitioners. It is quite clear that a number of the religious believers have limited choices to make and continuously attend the legitimate religious sites for worship even in cases where they may seem to be opposing some practices their managers may be involved. Based on the economic and political perspective and in regard to this religious issue, it is clearly indicated that the religious believers in China do not possess the voice nor exit options.

However, they are making all efforts in the parameters set by the government officials. It should be noted that in such circumstance, the religious believers cannot achieve all they intend to receive in their spiritual quest. Therefore, it is relevant to argue for the need to allow the religious sites be marketed freely rather being under the legitimate control of the Chinese government so as to promote religious freedom in China (Qianfan & Yingping 32). Religious interests need to be well-respected the Chinese party-state rather than being ignored as it is the case with China’s central government's State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) institutional weakness.

It would be important for the local government officials to develop a compelling feeling so as to be in consultation with the religious leaders prior to taking actions that may impact religious interests, and thus enhancing religious freedom not only in China but across the world (Inboden 2).

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