World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide Those who are Han believers may not be steadfast believers, but those who practice intermittently. Because of loose ties to Buddhism, it is hard to quantify the number of religious followers. It was in the 18 th and 19 th centuries that European ideology spread to China. The Western religions gained some during the Taiping Rebellion. The Communist party came to power in 1949 and was atheist in orientation. Even though the government does not proffer a religion and is largely atheistic, they do, in most cases, protect the citizens to worship as they choose. However, that does not mean the government (and others) does not persecute different religions; they have throughout history. It appears beliefs like Taoism and Buddhism were supported since they are such integral parts of Chinese culture. The largest religions in China are Shenism, Taoism, and Buddhism. All religions are scattered throughout the country. Many of the world’s tallest statutes are found in China. The world’s largest statue, the Spring Temple Buddha, is now located in Henan. China also houses the world’s highest pagoda and the world’s tallest stupa (a dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine). Ancient pr -historic Prior to Chinese civilization, in the area known as East Asia that includes the territorial boundaries of modern-day China, the people practiced animistic practices. Tribes or shamans offered sacrifices, or offerings, that were used to communicate to the spiritual world. A shaman is a religious leader of the tribe who has special powers that include the ability to communicate with the spirit world and usually the ability to take herbals to heal people. The primitive elements of animism, folk religions, and shamanism were practiced and evolved into Taoism. Taoism, along with Confucianism and other folk religions, constitutes approximately 400 million followers in China alone. The Han Chinese practice a shamanic religion indigenous to their culture. Some literature ignores the contributions this practice has made to religion in China. A number of ethnic groups still practice shamanic religions. Modern History The People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, officially creating and atheistic government. The government views religion was emblematic of feudalism and foreign colonialism so they elected to maintain a separation of church and state. During Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, there was a change: it led to a policy of the elimination of religions, and a huge number of worship places were destroyed. By the late 1970s, the policy relaxed and the Cultural Revolution became more tolerant of religious expression. Since 1980, programs have been dedicated to rebuilding the Buddhist and Taoist temples. The government now expresses support for religious freedom. The government organized the World Buddhist Forum in 2006 and the International Forum on the Daodejing in 2007. The government has adopted the policy that religion is part of the Chinese culture. In present-day China, there are five religions the state recognizes: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism. The government also exercises some control of organizations it recognizes. While recognizing some, the government has chosen to ban other new movements. ©2018 Achieve Page 41 of 96