China’s Communist Party is becoming alarmed at the number of its members who are rejecting its hopeless, irrational ideology and turning once again to religious faith.
A recent article in a newsletter belonging to the party’s Central Disciplinary Commission warned that it was now time for a crackdown on believers.
“A small number of party members have forsaken the party’s world view of dialectical materialism and have turned to religion; this is now attracting serious concern,” said the report.
It added that “Marx himself stated baldly that Communism, in essence, begins with atheism.” And the party has held “from the outset” that members “cannot be religious believers.”
According to a Christian pastor, “the article shows growing concern among leaders that many in the rank and file of the party have quietly ceased to believe in Communism.”
About 87 million people, 6% of the country’s population, belong to the party. But, says the newsletter, they have no right to religious freedom.
“Chinese citizens have the freedom of religious belief, but Party members aren’t the same as regular citizens,” it says. “They are fighters in the vanguard for a communist consciousness. They are firm Marxists, and also atheists.”
As such they are banned from holding religious beliefs and from taking part in religious activities.
In the 1990s, a lot of people were said to be eager to leave the party, but found that they couldn’t.
“Either they weren’t allowed to, or it was made very difficult for them, so that’s why we now have this issue,” said one Christian. “Genuine believers in Communism are few and far between, nowadays.”
Pastor Liu Fengang, based in Beijing, noted that the loss of faith in atheism reaches right to the highest echelons of the party.
“We frequently come across this issue in our missionary work,” said Liu. “For many years now, a lot of Chinese officials, Party members and their families have been turning to Jesus.”
Meanwhile, Christians continue to be harrassed, despite the alleged religious freedom.
“Our churches are still the targets of atheist persecution - for example, the forced demolition of crosses,” said Liu.
For an army of officials, their full time job is watching over faith-based activities. These officials are in charge of Catholics, Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims, and Protestants. Judaism isn’t recognised, and worship in non-recognised churches or mosques is illegal.
A recent article in a newsletter belonging to the party’s Central Disciplinary Commission warned that it was now time for a crackdown on believers.
“A small number of party members have forsaken the party’s world view of dialectical materialism and have turned to religion; this is now attracting serious concern,” said the report.
It added that “Marx himself stated baldly that Communism, in essence, begins with atheism.” And the party has held “from the outset” that members “cannot be religious believers.”
According to a Christian pastor, “the article shows growing concern among leaders that many in the rank and file of the party have quietly ceased to believe in Communism.”
About 87 million people, 6% of the country’s population, belong to the party. But, says the newsletter, they have no right to religious freedom.
“Chinese citizens have the freedom of religious belief, but Party members aren’t the same as regular citizens,” it says. “They are fighters in the vanguard for a communist consciousness. They are firm Marxists, and also atheists.”
As such they are banned from holding religious beliefs and from taking part in religious activities.
In the 1990s, a lot of people were said to be eager to leave the party, but found that they couldn’t.
“Either they weren’t allowed to, or it was made very difficult for them, so that’s why we now have this issue,” said one Christian. “Genuine believers in Communism are few and far between, nowadays.”
Pastor Liu Fengang, based in Beijing, noted that the loss of faith in atheism reaches right to the highest echelons of the party.
“We frequently come across this issue in our missionary work,” said Liu. “For many years now, a lot of Chinese officials, Party members and their families have been turning to Jesus.”
Meanwhile, Christians continue to be harrassed, despite the alleged religious freedom.
“Our churches are still the targets of atheist persecution - for example, the forced demolition of crosses,” said Liu.
For an army of officials, their full time job is watching over faith-based activities. These officials are in charge of Catholics, Buddhists, Taoists, Muslims, and Protestants. Judaism isn’t recognised, and worship in non-recognised churches or mosques is illegal.