Religion
Related: About this forumChristian family details crackdown on church in China
Source: Associated Press
By MICHELLE YUN
July 8, 2019
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) The Sunday service this week at an unassuming church in Taiwan was especially moving for one man. It was the first time Liao Qiang had worshipped publicly since authorities shut down his church in China seven months ago.
The 49-year-old arrived in Taiwan last week after fleeing China with five family members. He and his 23-year-old daughter, Ren Ruiting, described living under constant surveillance for the past seven months after authorities detained them and dozens of other members of their prominent but not government-sanctioned church in December.
Chinas ruling Communist Party has carried out a widespread crackdown on all religious institutions in recent years, including bulldozing churches and mosques, barring Tibetan children from Buddhist religious studies and incarcerating more than a million members of Islamic ethnic minorities in what are termed re-education centers. President and party leader Xi Jinping has ordered that all religions must Sinicize to ensure they are loyal to the officially atheistic party.
In contrast, Taiwans democratically elected government has long taken a hands-off approach to religion on the island, where most follow Buddhism and traditional Chinese beliefs, but where Christianity and other religions also thrive.
Liao and Rens account is the first detailing what has happened since the detentions began at the Early Rain Covenant Church. It shows the determination of the Chinese government and the lengths it has gone to eradicate a congregation that has long been a thorn in its side.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/ba96f6f341824355b2997cf6c08c9a81
trotsky
(49,533 posts)More confirmation that this is about the threats posted by specific groups to the state and party. There are lots of churches and religious groups that aren't targeted by the Chinese government, because they aren't a threat.
But people with an agenda to smear atheists will try to make you think this is about atheists persecuting theists simply for the "crime" of being a theist. Those people are lying.
Eugene
(62,623 posts)to subordinate religion to the state. The churches allowed by China let the state choose their clergy and use state-edited scripture. Even the Catholic Church made a deal with them. And pointing out the million Muslims in "reeducation camps" is not a smear.
Xi's China is becoming a totalitarian state, complete with regulation of thought and supported by mass surveillance.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)guillaumeb
(42,649 posts)The theists made me do that?
Sad.
trotsky
(49,533 posts)But I'm not surprised, because apparently that's how you think Christians should act.