Promote Religious Harmony and Serve Scientific Development
Promoting Religious Harmony to Serve Scientific Development
During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period [1], religious work adhered to the guidance of the Scientific Outlook on Development [2], comprehensively implemented the Party's basic policy on religious work, deeply carried out the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," and focused on promoting harmonious religious relations. By fully mobilizing the initiative of personages in religious circles and the masses of religious believers, religious work has made active contributions to promoting scientific development and social harmony.
I. Continuous Deepening of the Understanding of Religious Issues
The Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary has attached great importance to religious issues. Based on profound changes in international and domestic situations, and grasping the basic laws governing religion under new circumstances, the Central Committee has made a series of new summations and judgments from the strategic height of the overall development of the Party and state undertakings. These have deepened the understanding of religious issues, enriched the Party’s theories and policies on religious work, and effectively guided and promoted religious work.
The 17th Party Congress proposed the comprehensive implementation of the Party's basic policy on religious work, namely: to fully implement the Party's policy on freedom of religious belief, to manage religious affairs in accordance with the law, to adhere to the principle of independence and self-management, and to actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society. The formal establishment of this "four-sentence" basic policy is a high-level summation of the practical experience of religious work since the founding of New China, and the latest synthesis of the Party’s theories and policies on religious work. It has become the guiding ideology and action guide for doing religious work well under new situations.
In building a socialist harmonious society, it is necessary to properly handle various relationships based on economic and social development. The Central Committee has pointed out that religious relations are a major category of relations involving the overall situation of the work of the Party and the state. Correctly understanding and handling religious relations, and maintaining and promoting their harmony, concerns the overall situation of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the process of building a socialist harmonious society, and the prosperity, development, long-term stability, and security of the Party and the country. It is necessary to enhance the sense of responsibility and mission in doing religious work well, fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious work, and strive to achieve harmony between religion and society, harmony among different religions, and harmony between religious believers and non-believers, as well as among believers of different religions.
To promote economic and social development, we must unite all forces that can be united and mobilize all positive factors that can be mobilized. The Central Committee proposed that the active role of personages in religious circles and the masses of religious believers in promoting economic and social development should be brought into play. The introduction of this important discourse requires us to view the social role of religion with a scientific attitude, put greater effort into bringing out the positive role of religious circles and guiding religion to adapt to socialist society, and encourage religious personages and believers to actively devote themselves to the great cause of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thereby opening up a new realm for religious work.
Doing work among the masses of religious believers is the fundamental task of religious work. Through profound and meticulous ideological and political work, we must ensure that religious believers sincerely support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system; firmly establish national consciousness, citizenship consciousness, and legal consciousness; consciously safeguard national unity, ethnic solidarity, and social stability; and actively devote themselves to the great process of accelerating socialist modernization. We must persist in putting people first [3], sincerely care for religious believers—especially those facing difficulties in their daily lives—help them solve practical problems, and organize and support them in actively developing production, improving their lives, and achieving prosperity through hard work, so that religious believers can tangibly feel the care and warmth of the Party and the government.
During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, Party and government cadres at all levels, especially leading cadres, further improved their understanding of religious issues, and their capacity for religious work was significantly strengthened. Party committees, governments, and relevant departments at all levels have paid more attention to religious work. The institutional mechanisms for religious work—characterized by the unified leadership of the Party committee, joint management by the Party and government, comprehensive coordination by religious work departments, specialized responsibilities for relevant departments, and common participation from all aspects of society—have become more refined.
II. Significant Improvement in the Level of Managing Religious Affairs According to Law
The promulgation and implementation of the "Regulations on Religious Affairs" have powerfully promoted the process of making religious work rule-based. During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, through the implementation of these Regulations, the concept of promoting religious work through the rule of law was reinforced, and the capacity and level of managing religious affairs according to law were significantly improved.
To implement the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," the State Administration for Religious Affairs formulated and issued several supporting regulations and normative documents, including the "Measures for the Approval and Registration of the Establishment of Venues for Religious Activities," the "Measures for the Filing of Religious Clergy," the "Measures for the Establishment of Religious Colleges," the "Measures for the Management of Tibetan Buddhist Temples," and the "Measures for the Financial Supervision and Management of Venues for Religious Activities (Trial)." Following the principle of legal unity, 17 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) formulated or revised local religious regulations and government rules. Through these efforts, a legal system for religious affairs—centered on the Constitution and including administrative regulations, local regulations, departmental rules, and local government rules—is taking shape, and the main aspects of religious affairs management are basically grounded in law.
Through the implementation of the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," the Party's religious policies have been vigorously executed, the citizens' right to freedom of religious belief has been effectively protected, and the legitimate rights and interests of religious personages and believers have been fully guaranteed. Party committees and governments at all levels have taken the initiative to perform practical deeds for the religious community, helping religious groups, colleges, and venues for religious activities solve practical difficulties and improving the conditions for their offices, schooling, and normal activities. Incidents that hurt the religious feelings of believers have been handled according to law, and mutual respect and harmonious coexistence between believers and non-believers have been advocated. Issues involving the demolition and relocation of properties belonging to religious groups and venues for religious activities during urban construction have been properly handled, and efforts to coordinate the resolution of legacy issues regarding religious property have continued. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Administration for Religious Affairs jointly issued the "Opinions on Properly Solving the Social Security Issues of Religious Clergy," which incorporated religious clergy into the social security system, receiving widespread welcome from the religious community.
Through the implementation of the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," the status of religious work departments as subjects of law enforcement was further clarified, and the legal awareness of religious work cadres was further enhanced. They have become more conscious of standardized administrative behavior, and their ability to perform administration in accordance with the law has further improved. Significant results have been achieved in using legal means to break through key and difficult problems in religious work and to resist overseas infiltration activities utilizing religion. Managing religious affairs according to law has gradually become the primary mode of religious work.
Through the in-depth and extensive "Fifth Five-Year Plan" for disseminating legal knowledge [4] and the publicity and training regarding the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," the concept of abiding by discipline and law among religious personages and the masses of believers has been significantly strengthened. They have become more conscious of conducting normal religious activities within the scope permitted by law, using legal means to safeguard their own legitimate rights and interests, and resisting all illegal and criminal activities that use religion to undermine ethnic solidarity and social stability.
III. Further Strengthening the Construction of Patriotic Religious Organizations
During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, active efforts were made to encourage religious organizations to strengthen their self-construction, fully playing their role as bridges and links between the Party and government and the masses of religious believers, with significant results.
Focusing on the theme of promoting social harmony, religious circles were guided to excavate contents within religious thought, doctrine, and morality that adapt to the requirements of the progress of the times. The work of "interpreting sutras" in Islam has progressed steadily, "theological construction" in Christianity has continued to deepen, "democratic management of the church" [5] in Catholicism has been strengthened, and "sutra-preaching exchanges" in Buddhism and Taoism have been effectively carried out. The ideological foundation for religion to adapt to socialist society has become more solid.
To effectively implement the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," various national religious organizations were guided to formulate more than 10 management measures, such as those for the certification of religious clergy and the appointment of main teaching positions in venues for religious activities. They revised their charters and improved various rules and regulations, creating an atmosphere of operating according to law and following regulations. Internal management has become more standardized, and the capacity for self-management has been significantly enhanced.
The nationwide "Campaign to Create Harmonious Temples and Churches" was launched. Religious personages and believers responded actively and participated enthusiastically, which powerfully promoted the self-management of venues for religious activities and mobilized their initiative to serve society and benefit the people.
Following the requirements of being "politically reliable, accomplished in scholarship, and capable of winning over the people through virtue," innovative cultivation methods were adopted and training channels were opened to strengthen the ranks of religious clergy. Special focus was placed on cultivating middle-aged and young patriotic religious personages, effectively alleviating the "green-yellow gap" [6] (generational gap) in the ranks of religious clergy. Various national religious organizations successively completed their leadership transitions, the leadership teams have basically achieved rejuvenation, and a smooth handover from the old generation to the new has been realized.
IV. More Proactive Role of Religious Circles in Playing a Positive Role
During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, greater importance was attached to the positive role of the religious community, encouraging religious personages and believers to actively participate in economic and social construction. The religious community has become more proactive in serving society and more conscious in serving the country.
From the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, the snow and ice disasters in the South, the drought in the Southwest, and the "August 8th" typhoon in Taiwan, to the Yushu earthquake in Qinghai and the mudslide in Zhouqu, Gansu—in the face of disasters, the religious community has carried forward the spirit of "great love" characterized by "assistance coming from all quarters when one place is in trouble." They have always extended a helping hand at the first opportunity, donating money and materials, and providing whatever relief was within their power. When the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission commended advanced collectives and individuals in the Yushu earthquake relief efforts, the religious community was included in the scope of commendation for the first time, which was a full affirmation of the religious community's disaster relief efforts.
During the hosting of the Beijing Olympics, the Shanghai World Expo, and the Guangzhou Asian Games, China's religious community responded to the call of the Party and government. With the attitude of being masters of the country, they consciously maintained stability in the religious field, actively provided religious services, and took the initiative to publicize China's religious policies, playing a positive role and demonstrating the good image of China's religious community.
Carrying forward the excellent tradition of "saving the world and benefiting the people," the religious community has actively explored new ways to serve society, carrying out various forms of public welfare and charitable undertakings. They have done a great deal of work in poverty alleviation, elderly care, assistance for the disabled, donations for education, and ecological protection, receiving praise from all sectors of society.
V. Healthy Development of Religious Exchanges
During the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, China's religious community actively carried out friendly exchanges and interactions on the basis of equality, serving the great cause of national reunification and playing the unique role of religion in "people-to-people diplomacy."
Following the principles of "mutual non-subordination, non-interference, and mutual respect," friendly exchanges with the religious communities in Hong Kong and Macau were actively conducted, and religious exchanges across the Taiwan Strait were strengthened, enhancing understanding and friendship among the religious communities in these four regions.
Innovation was introduced into the methods of external religious publicity, and new channels for external religious exchange were explored. The "China Church Bible Ministry Exhibition" was held in the United States and Germany, the "China-Singapore Religious Culture Exhibition" in Singapore, the "China-Indonesia 2010 Islamic Cultural Performance" in Indonesia, and the large-scale Buddhist symphony "A Hymn of Peace for China" was held in multiple countries and regions. These activities publicized China's policy of freedom of religious belief, advocated the concept of religious harmony, and generated a positive influence.
Religious circles participated more proactively in activities in the international religious field, hosting two World Buddhist Forums and the first International Tao Te Ching Forum. They participated in international conferences such as the Asia-Europe Interfaith Dialogue and the activities of international organizations such as the World Council of Churches, the World Fellowship of Buddhists, and Religions for Peace. By publicizing the proposal to jointly build a harmonious world, they established China's image as peaceful, open, and inclusive, and sought to gain the power of discourse in the international religious field.
Importance was attached to cooperation and dialogue on religious human rights. China participated in the sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council and several bilateral and multilateral human rights dialogues (including those with the US, EU, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, and Norway). China clarified its position on religious issues, provided clarifications, and rebutted the acts of Western countries attacking China's state of religious freedom, carrying out a struggle that was "reasoned, advantageous, and restrained" [7].
The practice of religious work during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period fully proves that to do religious work well under new situations, we must persist in the guidance of the Scientific Outlook on Development, firmly establish the Marxist view of religion, adhere to serving the overall work of the Party and the state, fully implement the Party's basic policy on religious work, deeply carry out the "Regulations on Religious Affairs," accurately grasp the basic laws governing religion under new situations, promote the resolution of new circumstances and problems in the religious field with an innovative spirit, and continuously improve the scientific level of religious work.
The goals and tasks of the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" have set new requirements for religious work. We must continue to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents," and thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development. We must adhere to the main theme [High-Quality Development] and the main line [Structural Reform], strengthen investigation and research, summarize experience, refine policies, and strengthen management. We must mobilize the initiative of religious personages and the masses of believers, promote harmonious religious relations, and create a favorable social environment for fulfilling the goals and tasks of economic and social development during the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" period.