Calvin Prof Looks at Religion and China

March 17, 2005 == MEDIA ADVISORY

On March 14 Calvin professor and director of Asian Studies Dan Bays took part
in a Congressional roundtable in Wahington called "China's New Regulation on
Religious Affairs: A Paradigm Shift?"

This Roundtable examined China's new religious regulation effective this year
on March 1. Government officials and experts have hailed the new regulation as
a "paradigm shift" in China's treatment of religion. One PRC official claimed
that the new regulation sets clear limits on officials' exercise of power over
religion, safeguards religious freedom, and moves from direct administrative
control to a system of self-government by religious groups.

Human rights advocacy groups reject these claims, arguing that increased
detail in the regulation will reduce believers' already limited ability to
worship freely in China. Some charge that the drafters' goal was a more
efficient "rule by law," rather than "rule of law" protection of citizens'
rights. They also suggest that the details of the new law are less significant
than simultaneous official actions, such as the arrest of house church leader
Pastor Zhang Rongliang within days after the announcement of the new rules, and
harsher Party policy, particularly in ethnic regions.

Questions examined during the Roundtable included:

Is the new regulation likely to increase or decrease the role of the State in
religious life?
Does the new regulation offer believers any redress against abuse?
Will the new rules legalize a greater variety of worship beyond the currently
accepted five "official" religions? Will China's indigenous religions be
allowed more scope under the new regulation?
Will the regulation's guarantee of freedom of religion survive broad
prohibitions against "using religion to harm national interests, society's
public interests, and citizens' legal rights and interests"?

For more, including an outline of Bays' remarks, see

http://www.cecc.gov/pages/roundtables/031405/index.php?PHPSESSID=55551a80261434ba1630807ed8f2c249

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Received on Thu Mar 17 16:06:40 2005