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There are many religions in China, such as Buddhism, Daoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. Minority nationalities such as the Hui, Uygur, Kazak, Tatar, Tajik, Uzbek, Kirgiz, Dongxiang, Salar and Bonan are Muslim, a total of 17 million people. There are 5 million and 10 million in China following Catholicism and Protestantism respectively. It is difficult to count the number of Buddhist and Daoist believers, since there is no strict admittance rites. By the end of 1989, more than 40,000 monasteries, temples and churches had been reopened to the public.
There are now eight national, 164 provincial-level religious organizations in China. They independently organize religious activities and perform their religious duties under the protection of the Constitution and the law.
Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Government have advocated a policy of freedom of religious belief. This fundamental, long-term policy accords to Chinese citizens the right to believe or not to believe in religion or any sect thereof. Non-believers are free to become believers and vice versa. All citizens, religious or not, are politically equal. All faiths, large or small, are on an equal footing.
People may ask why a socialist country like China with Marxism-Leninism as its guiding philosophy should maintain a policy of freedom of religious belief? We think religion is a product of history and that objective laws of development govern its origins, development and eventual disappearance. So long as there are conditions for the existence of religion, there will be followers. Today, there are still a considerable number of believers in China. Policy must take account of this reality.
Moreover, religious belief is mainly a problem based in thought, which cannot be solved by administrative orders. There are religious differences among the people of China's nationalities, but all love their country and share the common goal of making it strong and prosperous. Therefore, there is no reason to exclude believers from the common effort.
During the "cultural revolution" from 1966 to 1976, the gang of four brought misery to religious people as to others. They raised the slogan of "abolishing religion"and said "Religion belongs in the museum. " Under such circumstances, monasteries, temples and churches were closed down ordemolished, and religious activities and ordinary believers were cruelly persecuted. State organizations dealing with religious affairs were slandered as "protectors of religious monsters and demons" and disbanded. After the gang of four was overthrown, the policy of freedom of religious belief was restored. A number of temples , mosques and churches were repaired and reopened. The Religious Affairs Bureau under the State Council resumed its functions. Also restored were the Chinese Buddhist Association, the Chinese Taoist Association, the Chinese Islamic Association, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Three-Self-Patriotic Movement Committee of the Protestant Churches of China. Research on religion has been reactivated and exchanges with religious circles abroad have been increased.
Today as before the "cultural revolution", religious notables have been elected to the people's congresses and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conferences at various levels. They deal with state affairs like other deputies and also help insure that the policy of freedom of religious belief is properly administered. This has won the support of believers, stimulated their initiative in building the country and developed closer ties between them and the People's Government. It contributes to stability and unity at home and increases the scope of contacts with the people of other countries. This is conducive to hastening China's modernization, building international unity against foreign invasion and helping maintain world peace.