ChinaSource Quarterlies ⋅ Church and State

Religious Policies in China and Their Influence on the Church

Vol. 15, No. 4

By Joann Pittman ⋅ Dec 21, 2013 ⋅ Topic: Church and State

Articles in this Issue

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Editorial

Understanding the Complexity

Editorial

The guest editor's point of view

Joann Pittman ⋅ Dec 3 2013
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Lead Article

Religious Policies in China

Defining Normal

As this article looks at the three key government documents that address religion in China, it focuses on the use of the word "normal." It looks at the definition of normal, the restrictions the government regulations actually place and the thinking that undergirds the regulations. The principals underlying them are...

Joann Pittman ⋅ Dec 3 2013
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Supporting Article

The Present Condition of Christianity and Religious Regulations in China

Huang Jianbo looks at China's basic understanding of religion which affects the formulation and execution of its religious policies. To date, the state has believed that religion is a problem although it has never explicitly stated what kind of problem. The author identifies three possible ways in which the government...

Huang Jianbo ⋅ Dec 4 2013
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Supporting Article

How China's Religious Affairs Bureaucracy Works

The author helps us to understand the workings of the religious affairs bureaucracy first by following the story of an aspiring pastor, then by viewing them historically. The Chinese Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement Association, China Christian Council, Religious Affairs Bureau and United Front Work Department are all discussed along with...

Carsten T. Vala ⋅ Dec 4 2013
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View from the Wall

Pastoring in a Registered Church

A ChinaSource interview conducted by Kay Danielson In a recent interview, a pastor of a church, located in a rural district of a northern city in China, speaks about the congregation, its steady growth, its relationship with government officials, the challenges it faces and his responsibilities.

Kay Danielson ⋅ Dec 9 2013
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Peoples of China

House Church Attitudes towards Government Authorities

ChinaSource recently asked six leaders of house churches, in various parts of the country, about the current environment that affects their practice of religion in their location. Their responses, detailing the environment as well as their attitudes towards the local authorities and the issue of registration, are expressed in this...

Kay Danielson ⋅ Dec 9 2013
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Book Review

Closing a Perception/Reality Gap

A Book Review

Religious Freedom in China: Policy, Administration, and Regulation; A Research Handbook by Kim-kwong Chan and Eric R. Carlson Reviewed by Brent Fulton This volume provides reliable information about religious policy and its implementation in China. 

Brent Fulton ⋅ Dec 9 2013
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Resource Corner

Regulations on Religious Affairs

国家宗教事务局-- Decree of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China No. 426

Becoming familiar with China’s regulations on religious affairs can provide an official reference point for informed discussion on this issue.

ChinaSource Team ⋅ Dec 19 2013
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Intercessory Note

Intercessory Notes

Items that require your intercession

ChinaSource Team ⋅ Dec 20 2013
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Image Credit: Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman is senior vice president of ChinaSource and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University... View Full Bio