Religion and Society in the East

The periodical of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences. ISSN 2542-1530

Issues

Society, Religious Politics and Islam in China

Maria Pakhomova

Religiia i obshchestvo na Vostoke, Issue I (2017), p. 181-201.

Religion and State / Религия и государство

 
The paper deals with the main stages of PRC’s government views to religion institutions in social life in the second half of XX – beginning of XXI centuries and make some links with foreign policy. It shows ethnic and institutional structure of contemporary Islamic society in China. The research is based on PRC’s legislation and China’s government departments materials.
Pragmatism is the main driving mechanism of PRC’s police in any area. And religious policy isn’t an exception. Chinese religious institutes are deeply incorporated into governmental structures (e.g. Administration for Religious Affairs), and have extensive legislative framework. Policy approach to different religious (excluding Confucianism) fluctuate from tolerant and using it in practical (including diplomatic) goals to opposition to believe in religion. In reaction to practical needs religion was an object to make some research on it, and very often from the Marxist methodology and socialistic point of view. Furthermore, the question of religion and socialism ideology co-existing is opened for discourse in China.


Keywords: religious politics, Islam, China, Chinese Muslims

Volume: 181-201