In China official interpretation of religion is formed in the frame of Marxist views, which at the end of the 20th century substantiated just negative vision of religion. Nowadays Marxist definitions have been revised and reconsidered as incomplete. Political authorities understand the importance of religion in solving social, political and national problems.
On the one hand, protection of religious traditions is an effective method for improvement of society moral values. On the other hand, religion can be used against Chinese current political and social system.
So the strategic tasks of Communist party of China are to protect the religious freedom of national minorities, prevent national conflicts, and to confront external and internal enemies, which are aimed to escalate national conflicts.
Today political authorities emphasize the importance of the state identity of every Chinese citizen. In contrast, they are opposed to national identity. There was born a new term called “four identities”. It means “identification of Motherland”, “identification of Chinese nation”, “identification of Chinese culture”, “identification of socialism with Chinese characteristics”. The elucidative campaign concerning the “four identities” is aimed to strengthen the state identification of every Chinese citizen. Religion is a base of the long-lasting and sustainable identification of every person in the society. But in case of nationalist and separatist manipulation religion can destroy all social and political identifications and lead to identity crisis. Therefore Chinese authorities find it very important to consolidate the state identification, which is the foundation of everybody’s co-existence within a single state. It means that people must be able to manage the problem of correlation between religious faith and state identification. In other words, every person in Chinese society must identify himself as Chinese citizen regardless of faith in a particular religion.
Key words: People’s Republic of China, politics, religion, reflection theory, opium theory, nationality, identity
DOI: 1022250/2072-8662.2017.1.49-55
About the author
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Marina A. Khaymurzina – PhD (Philosophy), Interpreter of International Office, Associate Professor at the Department of Chinese Studies, Amur State University; 21 Ignatyevskoe Shosse, Blagoveshchensk, Amur Region, Russia, 675027; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |