Is China An Atheist Country?

China claims that its residents are free to worship, but many religious practices are prohibited. So just how religious is China?

Aug 18, 2016 01:00 AM ET

A few weeks back, officials in China released an official but curiously defensive white paper asserting that the country supports religious freedom. The statement followed a wave of criticism from human rights groups regarding China's treatment of its Muslim minority.

In today's Seeker Daily report, we ask the conspicuous question: How exactly does religion work these days in China, an ostensibly communist nation with increasingly capitalist tendencies and a history of banning religious groups altogether?

As you might expect, it gets complicated. In the middle of the 20th century, religion was completely banned in China by communist party leader Mao Zedong, a notorious opponent of half-measures. But the ban was lifted after Mao's death in 1976, and six years later lawmakers amended China's constitution to protect freedom of religious belief.

However, the law only recognizes five "patriotic religious associations" -- Buddhism, Catholicism, Taoism, Islam and Protestantism -- and does not guarantee citizens the right to practice or worship. As a practical matter, religious organizations in China have historically faced official discrimination and religious prosecution.

http://www.seeker.com/is-china-an-atheist-country-1977496464.html

2:54 video at link.