Zhao Yan and Li Jianfeng: Building a "Four-System Framework" to Advance the Sinicization of Religion in China
Since the 18th Party Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized in various speeches that adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in China is one of the important tasks for successful religious work in the New Era. At the National Conference on Religious Work held on December 3, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must fully implement the Party's policy on freedom of religious belief, adhere to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in China, and actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society." This constitutes a further interpretation and deepening of the discourse on the Sinicization of religion based on previous conferences. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has proposed a series of new concepts and measures regarding religious work, interpreting the Sinicization of religion from different perspectives; however, the discourse on "adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in China" has remained consistent throughout. For example, in 2015, at the Central United Front Work Conference, the General Secretary proposed the innovative thesis that "to actively guide religion to adapt to socialist society, we must adhere to the direction of Sinicization"; at the 2016 National Conference on Religious Work, the General Secretary emphasized "supporting religions in our country in adhering to the direction of Sinicization"; in 2017, "adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religions in our country" was written into the report to the 19th Party Congress; in 2020, at the Third Central Symposium on Work Regarding Xinjiang, the General Secretary made deployments to "persist in the direction of the Sinicization of Islam in Xinjiang and achieve the healthy development of religion"; in July 2021, during an inspection of Tibet, he requested to "actively guide Tibetan Buddhism to adapt to socialist society, and promote religious harmony, social harmony, and ethnic concord"; in August of the same year, during an inspection in Chengde, Hebei, he proposed to "adhere to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in our country and actively guide religions to adapt to socialist society." This series of important discourses has repeatedly emphasized the importance of adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in China.
Supporting our country’s religions in adhering to the direction of Sinicization requires institutional safeguards. Institutions manage the long term and the fundamental; a sound institutional framework is the guarantee for promoting the adherence of our country’s religions to the direction of Sinicization. Having laws to follow and systems to abide by are the prerequisites and basis for the smooth advancement of religious Sinicization. Religion is a cultural phenomenon that appeared when human social development reached a certain historical stage, and it belongs to social ideology. As far as religion in our country is concerned, it will not only exist for a long time but will also continue to exert a certain influence on society according to its own laws and characteristics. Therefore, to do a good job in religious work in the New Era, we must adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses, comments, and instructions on religious work, and utilize the Marxist view of religion to correctly grasp the essence of religion and study the objective laws of religious development. We must both guide and support our country's religions in adhering to the direction of Sinicization, and, in accordance with the requirements of the spirit of the National Conference on Religious Work, strengthen institutional building across multiple levels—including ideological guidance, personnel teams, and policies and regulations—so as to provide a solid guarantee for the Sinicization of our country's religions through a sound and perfected institutional system.
I. Constructing an institutional safeguard system for ideological guidance: Strengthening ideological guidance for religious circles
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "To do a good job in the Party's religious work and persist in the Party's basic policy on religious work, the key is to think deeply, see clearly, and target accurately regarding 'guidance' (导), ensuring that guidance is methodical, powerful, and effective, so as to firmly grasp the initiative in religious work." Religious work is a special type of mass work, and religious contradictions basically belong to contradictions among the people [1]. Therefore, in doing religious work, the primary task is to strengthen ideological guidance for religious circles.
First, establish a system for ideological education and guidance. Engels discussed the essence of religion in Anti-Dühring: "All religion, however, is nothing but the fantastic reflection in men’s minds of those external forces which control their daily life." Thought is the precursor to action, and understanding is the guide for action. Through establishing and perfecting relevant systems for ideological education and guidance, we strengthen the ideological leadership over figures in religious circles. 1. Establish an education system for the Party's theories, principles, and policies to consolidate the ideological foundation. Regularly study and transmit the spirit of relevant documents so that religious figures can promptly understand the decision-making deployments of the Party Central Committee and the latest meeting requirements of Provincial Party Committees, thereby unifying ideological understanding and achieving ideological clarity and political firmness. 2. Establish an education system on national and global conditions to enhance political sensitivity. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at a symposium with grassroots representatives: "The world today is undergoing great changes unseen in a century [2]. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the evolution of these changes. The international environment is becoming increasingly complex; economic globalization has encountered headwinds; and unilateralism and protectionism are prevalent in some countries. We must seek our country's development in an increasingly unstable and uncertain world." Facing the complex domestic and international situation, we must, through education on national and global conditions, guide religious figures to correctly recognize the international situation and comprehensively understand the "two overall situations" [3], leading the masses of believers through practical actions to participate in economic development and maintain social stability. 3. Establish an education system for religious policies and regulations to clarify boundaries and bottom lines. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the National Conference on Religious Work: "Religious activities should be carried out within the scope stipulated by laws and regulations." We must fully implement the requirements for strengthening rule-of-law education for clergy found in the Measures for the Administration of Religious Clergy and the Measures for the Administration of Religious Groups, supporting and guiding religious circles to study, respect, use, and revere the law, take the lead in law-abiding and regulation-respecting, and enhance their religious cultivation. We must guide them to correctly handle the relationships between religion and the state, religious rules/doctrines and laws/regulations, and citizenship and faith; to correctly understand the boundary between religious affairs and social affairs; and to avoid conflating civil, economic, or criminal issues with religious issues, ensuring there are no extra-legal lands, extra-legal persons, or extra-legal religions.
Second, establish a system for the normalization of thematic education. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the summary meeting of the "staying true to our original aspiration and founding mission" thematic education campaign: "All previous concentrated education activities of the Party have begun with ideological education, focusing on solving problems of superficial study, lack of ideological unity, and failure of action to keep pace. They have applied both steady, continuous effort and concentrated force to promote ideological unity, political solidarity, and consistency of action throughout the entire Party." Thematic education is a powerful vehicle for continuously improving ideological and political guidance. Based on the work priorities determined by the Central and Provincial Party Committees, and combined with major chronological milestones and important arrangements—such as the founding of the Party, the founding of the State, Reform and Opening Up, the Sinicization of religion, and the strengthening of the religious legal system—we should carry out diverse and vivid thematic education activities such as seminars, forums, essay competitions, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, and speeches. This will make patriotic education concrete, practical, and result-oriented, stimulating the patriotic sentiments of religious circles and strengthening their confidence in listening to the Party and following the Party.
Third, establish a joint meeting system for religious groups. Regularly convene joint meetings of various major religious groups to collectively study policies and regulations, exchange work experience, and share development achievements; to collectively analyze and judge risks and hidden dangers in the religious field and respond together to prominent problems; to collectively formulate relevant systems for religious groups and the religious field to unify thinking and build consensus; and to collectively advocate for norms of behavior in the religious field, encouraging religious circles to center on the core and serve the overall situation [4], thereby assisting development and maintaining stability.
Finally, establish a system for forging friendships and connections. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In doing ethnic and religious work, the most critical thing is to do a good job in ethnic unity, and the most effective thing is to win over people's hearts." Religious work is the work of winning hearts and minds. To further enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of ideological work, Party committees and governments at all levels, as well as United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels, should establish a friendship system with representative figures in religious circles. Everyone from Provincial Party Secretaries, Governors, and Provincial United Front Department heads down to general cadres in grassroots United Front departments should pair up and make friends with representative figures in religious circles. On one hand, reach people through reason, adhering to political solidarity and cooperation while maintaining mutual respect for beliefs. Through tea briefings, symposiums, and visits, maintain frequent contact, heart-to-heart talks, and assistance for representative figures in religious circles, promptly understanding their ideological trends and their opinions or suggestions on religious work, thereby strengthening ideological guidance. On the other hand, move people through emotion, helping to solve practical difficulties in their work and lives to achieve the goal of uniting and winning over people's hearts.
II. Constructing an institutional safeguard for the building of clergy teams: Accelerating talent cultivation
Talent cultivation is the key to successful religious work under the new situation. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We must attach importance to cultivating a team of patriotic religious clergy, take effective measures to improve the quality of religious figures, and ensure that the leadership of religious organizations is firmly held in the hands of those who love the country and their religion." Although the number of religious clergy in China is currently large, there is still a serious shortage of comprehensive talent characterized by good political quality, deep religious attainment, strong management ability, and high prestige among the masses. This greatly restricts the pace and effectiveness of religious adherence to the direction of Sinicization and adaptation to socialist society.
(I) Establishing an education and training system for religious academies. The Measures for the Administration of Religious Academies clearly stipulate: "Religious academies are important bases for cultivating patriotic religious reserve talent, correctly interpreting religious doctrines, and training in-service religious clergy." As the main battlefield for cultivating religious clergy and other specialized religious talent, religious academies bear the responsibility of supplying more qualified clergy to grassroots religious venues. They should improve the level and quality of talent cultivation by perfecting the education and training systems of religious academies. All religious clergy must undergo systematic study and education at formal, state-approved religious academies before their qualification certification to comprehensively improve their religious knowledge and comprehensive quality. Those who have not obtained a graduation certificate shall not be certified as religious clergy and shall not engage in religious activities that only clergy are permitted to perform. At the same time, religious academies must shoulder the responsibility of serving as training and rotation-training bases for religious clergy. All religious clergy should go to a religious academy for a training period of more than three months once every five years to update their knowledge systems, consolidate their theoretical support, improve their political quality, and better serve the masses of believers.
(II) Establishing a national education system for religious figures. Currently, most religious clergy in our country only receive education and training from religious academies. Although these are divided into vocational, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, their cultural foundation, management abilities, and perspectives for viewing and solving problems still have significant limitations and shortcomings compared to the corresponding levels in the national education system. On one hand, religious figures should be encouraged to actively apply for institutions of higher fulfillment to participate in systematic cultural knowledge study and shape correct ideological and value concepts. On the other hand, regions with the necessary conditions, under the support of local Party and government leadership, should use financial support and subsidies to collaborate with regional universities to provide degree education for those religious clergy who show promise and can be entrusted with heavy responsibilities. This will optimize their knowledge structure, enhance their comprehensive abilities, and establish a high-quality reserve backbone of clergy who can become models of loving the country and their religion and backbones for leading the Sinicization of religion.
(III) Establishing a system for universal rotation training. In view of the reality that the overall quality of religious clergy is relatively low, United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels must establish a clergy training model of "provincial-level overall planning, city-level primary responsibility, and grassroots-level implementation." Aiming to rotate and train religious clergy once every year, they should carry out training on the political situation, religious policies, and regulations. Through the method of "personnel contact, ideological connection, policy communication, and regulatory grounding," they should comprehensively carry out education, guidance, and interpretation of policies and regulations, establishing correct political, cultural, and historical views and striving to safeguard national political security and national security.
(IV) Establishing a system for sutra/scripture preaching and exchange. "The adaptation of religion to its society is an objective law for the survival and development of all religions in the world, and it is also an inevitable requirement for the healthy inheritance of religion in our country." The adaptation of religion to socialist society is an inevitable law for the healthy inheritance of religion within such a society. Currently, adhering to the direction of religious Sinicization means supporting religious circles in taking socialist core values as a guide. While maintaining basic beliefs, core doctrines, and ritual systems, they must deeply excavate content within doctrines and rules that is conducive to social harmony, temporal progress, and healthy civilization, making interpretations of doctrines and rules that meet the requirements of contemporary China's development and progress and can promote excellent traditional Chinese culture. By organizing religious circles to carry out scripture preaching and exchange, we guide and support them in gradually constructing a system of religious exegesis and theology with Chinese characteristics that is synchronized with the development of the times. These results should be applied to daily preaching activities to interpret religious classics for the masses of believers in a way that advances with the times, ensuring they both conform to religious principles and doctrines and align with socialist core values—thereby serving to provide ideological guidance and cultural identity for the masses of believers and accelerating the process of religious Sinicization.
(V) Establishing a system for the dynamic adjustment of the religious clergy database...
Currently, United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels have established databases for religious clergy and talent pools for backbone personnel based on local conditions. However, following the implementation of the requirements of the National Conference on Religious Work regarding the promotion of the Sinicization of religion and the execution of the "Measures for the Administration of Religious Clergy," it is necessary to further increase dynamic analysis of religious personnel. This includes multi-dimensional evaluations of their political stance, ideological consciousness, religious attainment, management capabilities, religious conduct, legal compliance, and prestige among the masses. Those who contravene religious rules and doctrines, violate religious precepts, breach policies and regulations, or use the name of religion for private gain, corruption, or criminal activities must be resolutely purged from the ranks of religious clergy. Conversely, young and promising individuals who are politically steadfast and adhere to the principle of independence, self-management, and the direction of Sinicization should be promptly brought into view, added to the databases and talent pools, and prioritized for intensive cultivation to provide a human resource guarantee for the healthy development of religion.
(6) Establishing a System for Post-Based Training Practical training in specific posts is the necessary path for the growth of any management personnel and the most effective method for enhancing execution capabilities; religious clergy are no exception. Experience in different positions allows them to accumulate work experience, broaden their horizons, and improve their ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems within real-world contexts. First, young backbone clergy with high political quality and strong religious attainment can be assigned to temporary developmental positions [5] within religious organizations or key religious venues. This enables them to better understand policies and regulations, gain a deeper grasp of the actual situation of grassroots religion, and increase their talents through practice. Second, methods for cross-regional and cross-provincial temporary assignments can be gradually explored and piloted. Young backbone personnel can be dispatched to advanced regions or exemplary venues for periodic study and exchange to enhance their quality and capabilities, allowing them to better serve local religious work upon their return.
(7) Establishing a System for Appointment and Utilization First, in conjunction with the term transitions and mid-term adjustments of religious organizations, representative personages from the religious circles who are patriotic, pious, and in the prime of their lives should be appointed to the leadership groups of organizations at all levels. This serves to augment their strength, infuse fresh blood, and continuously strengthen the creativity and vitality of patriotic religious organizations, thereby increasing their cohesion and influence. This, in turn, will elevate the status and influence of religious representatives within religious circles and among religious believers, creating conditions for them to fully play their roles as exemplars and leaders. Second, emphasis should be placed on making political arrangements, guiding them to actively participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs [6], and encouraging them to play a role in the People’s Congresses and Committees of the People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at all levels. This provides smooth channels for religious personages to participate in state affairs, offer suggestions, and exert their influence.
(8) Establishing a System for International Exchange Religious culture is an important component of Chinese culture and a significant element of world culture. Whether indigenous or foreign-born, religions in our country possess long histories, profound foundations, and glorious traditions and brilliant examples of peaceful interaction with the international community.
"In the history of cultural exchange between China and the outside world, religious cultural exchange has always occupied a very important position, producing a group of eminent monks and Daoist priests who made outstanding contributions in this field. We must make full use of the cultural advantages of Chinese Buddhism and Chinese Daoism and give play to their active role in public diplomacy, telling the 'stories of Chinese Buddhism' and the 'stories of Chinese Daoism' well." Religious culture knows no national boundaries; within the same religious system, religions in our country and those in other countries share common faith pursuits. In the process of building the New Era and constructing a community with a shared future for humanity, religious culture will surely become an important channel for China’s contact and interaction with the world. We should encourage religious organizations, religious academies, venues for religious activities, and religious clergy to go abroad on the basis of mutual respect, equality, and friendship. They should carry out external exchanges, spread concepts of peace, tell China’s story well, and promote people-to-people diplomacy. This will further enhance mutual understanding between China and other countries, winning the understanding and support of the world's people for China’s political, economic, cultural, and social systems, as well as our reform and opening up and our ethnic and religious policies. These facts should be used to strike back at the attempts of Western countries to smear and attack China under the guise of democracy and human rights, creating a favorable international space for China’s peaceful development.
III. Constructing the Institutional Guarantee for the Law-Based Management of Religious Affairs: Improving Policies and Regulations
Religious work must persist in "grasping with both hands, and both hands must be firm" [7]. While persisting in the guidance of ideological education, we must also follow the principle of "protecting the lawful, prohibiting the unlawful, containing extremism, resisting infiltration, and cracking down on crime." We must further improve policies and regulations and construct an institutional guarantee system for the law-based management of religious affairs, using laws, regulations, and systems to establish the bottom lines and "red lines" for the healthy transmission of religion. United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels must, in accordance with the Regulations on Religious Affairs and relevant laws and regulations, further establish and improve management systems for religious affairs. We must use systems to manage people, affairs, assets, and activities, thereby improving the capacity-building and the level of the rule of law in religious work.
(1) Establishing and Improving Leadership and Coordination Systems for Religious Work The cause of the United Front is the cause of the whole Party. Strengthening the leadership over United Front work, including religious work, is a consistent requirement of the Party. First, a system of Party committee responsibility should be established. We must further strengthen the Party's leadership over religious work, implementing the primary responsibility of Party committees and the "principal responsible person" role of Party secretaries. Religious work should be included in the agendas of the Standing Committees of Party committees, listed as content for Theoretical Center Group [8] study, and incorporated into evaluation and assessment metrics. Second, a coordination system for religious work should be well-constructed. At the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "It is necessary to improve the systems and mechanisms for religious work and promote the construction of a religious affairs governance pattern characterized by Party committee leadership, government management, social coordination, and religious self-discipline." Under the unified leadership of the Party committee, the United Front department must take the lead in coordination, while religious affairs departments must take responsibility for law-based management. Party and government departments—including the commissions for discipline inspection and supervision, organization, publicity, education, public security, culture, natural resources, planning, publishing, and market regulation—as well as people’s organizations such as trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women's federations, and associations for science and technology, must all perform their religious work according to their respective duties. This will create a pattern of "coordinated management and joint action" to collectively perform religious work well.
(2) Establishing a Management System for Religious Activities First, we must establish a system for the approval and supervision of religious activities. Religious affairs departments at all levels should strengthen the pre-approval, mid-event supervision, and post-event summary/improvement of religious activities. This is to prevent religious activities from blindly seeking excessive scale, reduce the frequency of cross-regional events, and eliminate the phenomenon of religious activities arbitrarily taking to the streets and affecting social order. We must guard against major accidents occurring within venues for religious activities or incidents that violate religious taboos, thereby hurting the religious feelings of believing citizens, undermining ethnic unity, or affecting social stability. Second, we must establish a reward system for reporting illegal or non-compliant religious activities. We should mobilize social forces to report various types of illegal religious activities, such as: the unauthorized establishment of venues for religious activities; illegal religious gatherings; unauthorized organization of or participation in religious education; impersonating religious clergy to conduct activities or defraud people of money; investing in or contracting venues for religious activities; religious clergy preaching or funding religious extremism; accepting appointments to clerical positions from overseas religious groups or institutions; printing or distributing illegal religious publications; using public welfare or charitable activities to proselytize; and providing assistance for these illegal activities. Reporting can be done via letter, in person, or by email. After religious affairs departments verify the situation, rewards will be given to individuals or organizations that report non-compliant or illegal activities. Penalties will be issued in accordance with the Regulations on Religious Affairs and relevant laws, ensuring harmony and stability in the religious sphere.
(3) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Religious Clergy Religious clergy deal directly with believers, and their political stance and level of religious cultivation directly influence the perceptions of the masses. We should improve their professional level through rigid systems by strictly controlling the "entry point." First, establish a pre-recognition screening system for religious clergy to strictly control "entry." In accordance with the requirements for the qualification of clergy in the "Measures for the Administration of Religious Clergy," United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels should conduct preliminary investigations and screenings of the educational background, political attitude, and family background of relevant personnel. Those with low education, incorrect political attitudes, or an improper attitude toward their own faith will not be approved. Second, establish a system for study, training, and examination for religious clergy to firmly grasp the "improvement point." Under the guidance of the United Front and religious affairs departments at the same level, religious organizations should organize examinations for those who have studied at formal religious academies or in the national higher education system and obtained relevant degrees. After concentrated training, they should be tested on basic political knowledge, religious policies and regulations, basic religious knowledge, and foundational cultural knowledge. Admissions should be based on the construction plans and quantity requirements for religious clergy in the local region or province. An induction ceremony should be held according to religious protocols, and then filed with the religious affairs department to become official religious clergy. In principle, those who have not studied at a formal religious academy or in the national higher education system and have not obtained a relevant degree will not be recognized as religious clergy, so as to better elevate the overall quality of the clergy. Third, establish a system for the elimination and exit of religious clergy to refine the "exit point." United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels should strengthen supervision and inspection of local religious clergy. Based on inspections, undercover visits, and social reports, for those religious clergy who have incorrect political attitudes, low religious attainment, improper religious conduct, impure faith, or who use religious resources for personal or group gain, or who violate laws, regulations, or the rules of their own organizations, the departments should supervise the relevant religious organizations to conduct verifications and revoke their clerical qualifications. This will purify the ranks of the clergy and maintain their good image.
(4) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Religious Organizations First, in accordance with the requirements of the State Administration for Religious Affairs' "Measures for the Administration of Religious Groups," relevant management systems should be formulated. These must provide necessary support and assistance for them to carry out their work and respect and utilize their role in internal religious affairs, while also further strengthening organizational, conduct, and disciplinary construction. Efforts should be made to build high-quality leadership groups that are politically reliable, democratic in conduct, and efficient in work, further enhancing the cohesion and appeal of religious organizations among clergy and believers. Second, United Front and religious affairs departments at all levels should strengthen the supervision and evaluation of religious organizations and their leadership members, reviewing and controlling major activities to ensure that religious organizations develop in the correct direction.
(5) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Venues for Religious Activities First, strictly control the establishment of venues for religious activities. Approval should be based on factors such as the number of local believers, religious life requirements, funding sources, and urban-rural construction planning. Second, improve various management systems for religious venues. This includes personnel management, systems for visiting clergy presiding over activities, financial management, public security management, fire safety, cultural relic protection, hygiene and epidemic prevention, and risk screening for hidden safety hazards. Use systems to regulate the behavior of religious venues and ensure their safe operation. Third, strictly enforce the registration system for religious venues. The approval of a religious venue by the religious affairs department is a preliminary administrative approval. After consent is given, the preparatory organization must also complete relevant procedures with departments such as natural resources and planning. Any venue that has not been approved by these other departments remains an illegal venue, and the county-level religious affairs department must not process its registration as a venue for religious activities.
(6) Establishing and Improving the Management System for Religious Academies Religious academies are the primary front for training religious talent. Strengthening and improving their management is of great significance for improving educational quality, cultivating teams of religious talent, and promoting the Sinicization of religion in China. According to the "Measures for the Administration of Religious Academies": First, strictly control their establishment. Religious academies are established by national religious organizations or provincial-level religious organizations. No other organization or individual may establish a religious academy. Second, strictly control the curriculum. In accordance with the provisions regarding teaching curricula in the "Measures for the Administration of Religious Academies," ensure that public courses cover...
Education in “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Socialist Core Values, fine traditional Chinese culture, advanced socialist culture, ideological and political theory, laws and regulations, and the standard spoken and written Chinese language.” Furthermore, the institutional “red line” [9] stipulating that the proportion of teaching hours for these subjects must not be less than 30 percent of total class hours must be strictly enforced. This guides religious figures and believers to cultivate and practice Socialist Core Values, carry forward Chinese culture, and strengthen their patriotic sentiments. Third, strictly control the quality of the teaching faculty. Implement and gradually improve management systems for teaching staff, requiring that both internal and guest teachers undergo political screening and review of their lecture content. Those who stubbornly violate policies and regulations, oppose the principle of independence and self-management [10], or spread fallacies and heresies must be resolutely removed from the teaching ranks. Fourth, actively explore the establishment of a joint schooling system. For religions with a small number of believers and low demand for clergy in a particular region, several neighboring provinces can jointly explore a collaborative educational model for training. This will better save costs, improve the quality of schooling, and reduce the phenomenon of “small but all-inclusive” [11] institutions.
(7) Establish and improve the registration and management system for religious property. First, establish a legal person registration system for religious organizations so that they may enjoy relevant rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations. Second, establish a legal registration system for religious property. Encourage religious organizations to proactively register religious property according to the law and obtain certificates of immovable property rights; where property rights change or are transferred, registration of change or transfer should be handled promptly. Ensure that religious organizations manage and use property belonging to the state or collectives according to the law, and enjoy ownership or other property rights over other legal property. This prevents lawless elements from occupying, plundering, privately dividing, damaging, or illegally sealing, seizing, freezing, confiscating, or disposing of the legal property of religious organizations, thereby earnestly safeguarding the property security of religious circles and guaranteeing the healthy development of religion.
(8) Establish and improve the management system for internet religious information services. With the development of the information age, internet religion has become more active, necessitating further strengthening of the management of internet religious affairs. First, improve the internet religious service activities of religious organizations and standardize the management of religious websites. Implement the requirements of the Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services, strictly forbidding online proselytization and religious commercialization activities, and strictly forbidding the publication of articles or remarks that violate policies and regulations. Encourage religious websites to publicize the Party’s religious theories, principles, and policies, as well as national laws and regulations. Second, establish a system for religious-related activities by non-religious organizations. Strictly forbid them from using religious resources for illegal profit-making, and strictly forbid them from engaging in online proselytization or online religious activities. Third, establish a system for online resistance against overseas religious infiltration. Prevent hostile forces from using religion to spread extremist ideas, establish online organizations, or train core members within the country, so as to earnestly maintain ideological security and social stability.
(9) Establish and improve the review system for the publication and distribution of religious publications. Religious publications are important vehicles for conducting religious teaching and research and for meeting the religious needs of believing citizens; their review must be strictly controlled. First, improve the printing system for internal materials of religious organizations. Internal materials printed by religious organizations may only be exchanged within religious circles and must not circulate or be sold in society, nor can they be used for profit. Religious affairs departments at all levels must strictly review the content of materials, strictly supervise circulation and distribution, and resolutely crack down on illegal acts. Second, establish a review system for public publications with religious content. In accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Publications, religious work departments must conduct careful reviews and strict checks on publicly published books involving religious content. Books that are inconsistent with historical facts, undermine the harmonious coexistence between believing and non-believing citizens, undermine harmony between different religions or within a religion, discriminate against or insult believing or non-believing citizens, preach religious extremism, or violate the principle of religious independence and self-management must resolutely be denied publication and distribution.
IV. Constructing a Robust Institutional Guarantee for Accountability: Strengthening Supervision and Inspection Advancing the Sinicization of religion is a systemic project with a broad scope involving many departments. It is necessary to strengthen organizational leadership, press home work responsibilities, strictly enforce accountability, and establish long-term mechanisms to ensure that all tasks are implemented and achieve practical results. Pressing home responsibilities and improving the accountability system are effective conduits for promoting the Sinicization of religion.
First, establish a system for the rectification of conduct (jiāofēng) [12]. Establish a Conduct Committee within religious groups. Religious clergy members with incorrect political attitudes, extremely poor religious attainment, improper conduct, or those who violate religious rules and dogmas should be promptly removed from the ranks of religious clergy in accordance with laws and regulations to purify the organization and maintain the good image of religious circles.
Second, establish an inspection system for religious work. First, provincial, municipal, and county religious affairs departments should establish religious work inspection teams according to the law, assigning responsibilities by district (fēnpiàn bāogàn) [13]. They should conduct regular and irregular supervision and inspections of religious activities within their jurisdictions, providing timely feedback to relevant departments for legal handling when problems are discovered. Major issues or situations can be handled through "supervised handling of designated cases" (guàpái dūbàn) [14] or by elevating the jurisdictional level of handling. Second, incorporate religious work into the scope of the "Major Inspections" of key provincial tasks. Utilize the major inspection system to oversee the handling of religious organizations and core figures who violate laws or regulations, and hold accountable those Party committees, government management departments, and relevant responsible persons who neglect their duties or commit dereliction of duty. Third, regarding acts within religious circles that violate policies and regulations, one must "dare to draw the sword" (gǎn yú liàngjiàn) [15], manage strictly, and handle matters according to the law, so as to earnestly transform the phenomenon of "lax, broad, and soft" (kuān sōng ruǎn) religious management and safeguard the dignity of the law.
Third, establish an accountability system for religious work. Discipline inspection commissions and organization departments at all levels shall, in accordance with Party regulations and national laws, strictly deal with units, primary heads, and persons directly responsible for inadequate implementation of responsibilities or for acting as "protective umbrellas" [16] for illegal activities.
Adhering to the direction of the Sinicization of religion in our country is the only path for the healthy development of religion. Facing such an interlinked and systemic project, we should provide a strong guarantee for boosting the Sinicization of religion and promote its effective implementation by constructing an institutional system that includes ideological guidance, the construction of religious clergy ranks, the management of religious affairs according to law, and a robust accountability system.
Web Editor: Caihong Source: Science and Atheism (Kēxué yǔ Wúshénlùn) Issue 3, 2022