Christianity and other religions have seen rapid growth in China. How does an atheist government deal with the faithful?

By Meihong Yu

There are about 80 million Christians in China today, according to Yang Fenggang, a sociologist in Purdue University in America. He predicts that the number is going to climb to 250 million in 2030, with China overtaking America as the largest Christian country in the world.

Religion goes underground

Since the 1950s the Chinese government has required religious organisations and venues to be registered through government agencies. Christian and Catholic parishioners must attend churches run by the government.

But religious activities are being held in Christian residences are referred as “house churches” or “underground churches.” The members in these house churches are widely believed to be far more than the legal ones registered with the government.

According to Bob Fu, the president of the United States based China Aid website campaigning against Christian persecution in China, many house church pastors and missionaries have been detained on the ambiguous charge of “illegal business operation” and “disrupting the public order.” 

China’s history of religious persecution

Chinese believers of many different religions suffered during the political turmoil in 1950s-1970s, with a great number sent to labor camps.

According to Bob Fu, since the 1980s the Chinese government has tried another approach to tackle the sensitive religion issue. “They’ve adopted a policy of reform, allowing for five major religions to exist to a limited extent, but with strictly enforced government control.”