Religion in China: What is China’s policy on religion?

The Chinese government’s regulations are part of a long-term strategy aimed at reshaping religion to align with communism and ensuring loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which embraces and promotes atheism. In recent years, the goal has also been to mold religion in accordance with traditional Chinese culture and President Xi Jinping’s ideology—an amalgamation of Marxism and nationalism.

China’s Constitution states that citizens enjoy “freedom of religious belief,” and the government officially recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism, and Taoism (also spelled Daoism). However, religious activities are subject to strict administrative oversight. Since the Pew Research Center began tracking religious restrictions in 2007, China has consistently ranked among the world’s most restrictive nations.

Sinicization of Religion

Sinicization is a policy under which religious groups are expected to adapt their doctrines, traditions, and moral values to Chinese cultural norms. This campaign especially affects religions perceived as “foreign”—such as Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism—whose followers are expected to prioritize Chinese traditions and demonstrate loyalty to the state.

Forms of Sinicization

• Authorities have removed crosses from churches and dismantled domes and minarets of mosques to give them a more “Chinese” appearance.
• Clergy and imams have been urged to deliver sermons that reflect socialist values.
• The government plans to issue a new “annotated version” of the Quran, aligning Islamic teachings with the “Chinese culture of the new era.”

Crackdown on Uyghur Muslims

Over the past decade, China’s harsh policies toward Uyghur Muslims—particularly in the Xinjiang province—have been widely documented. Human rights organizations have accused China of subjecting Uyghurs to mass detention, surveillance, and torture. The U.S. State Department has labeled the events in Xinjiang as “genocide,” claiming that Chinese authorities have detained over 1 million Muslims in specially designed camps. Uyghurs account for 43% of China’s total Muslim population.
The Chinese government denies these accusations, stating that the camps and other measures are meant to improve Muslim lives. Officials claim the camps offer vocational training and counter religious extremism.

Control over Christianity in China

Christianity in China is regulated through numerous laws. Christians are only allowed to worship in “official churches” registered with government agencies, which monitor both Protestant and Catholic practices. However, many Christians reject this control and worship in “underground churches.”
Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013, the government has banned online religious content, prohibited Christian gatherings outside approved locations, and shut down churches refusing to register. Several prominent pastors have been arrested, and some Christians have even been detained in camps.
In 2018, the Vatican and China signed an agreement to ease tensions over the appointment of Catholic bishops. However, the deal received criticism. Since then, China has accelerated efforts to bring Catholic churches into the official system and increased pressure on those that refuse.

Policy toward Buddhism and Tibet

Han Buddhism, the most widespread form in China, is treated with more tolerance compared to other religions. Xi Jinping has often praised how Han Buddhism has incorporated Confucianism, Taoism, and other traditional beliefs.
However, Tibetan Buddhism faces strict control. China has been accused of launching “political re-education” campaigns among Tibetan Buddhists to encourage loyalty to Xi Jinping and diminish allegiance to the exiled Dalai Lama. Furthermore, China has been accused of demolishing Tibetan Buddhist monuments, monasteries, and statues.

Folk Religion and Traditional Spiritual Practices

Folk religion and ancient spiritual traditions play a significant role in China. The government promotes activities it considers part of China’s cultural heritage and financially supports the reconstruction of some folk temples. Chinese people are allowed to worship Confucius and participate in temple festivals honoring deities like Mazu (goddess of the sea). China has even promoted Mazu festivals in Taiwan to gain political support.
Authorities have instructed local administrations to supervise folk religious activities, ensuring they align with cultural heritage and socialist values. Since 2015, local officials have been registering temples of historical and cultural importance and bringing them under government oversight. Conversely, temples deemed socially or culturally “insignificant” have been demolished, shut down, or converted into secular facilities.

Activities Outside Recognized Religions: “Superstition” or “Evil Cults”

Religious practices outside the five recognized faiths, and those not deemed part of cultural heritage, are often categorized as “superstition” or “evil cults.” For example, Chinese law bans witchcraft and sorcery, and the government opposes folk practices considered “superstitious,” such as setting off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.
Groups like Falun Gong, the Unification Church, and Children of God have been labeled “cults” and banned. The Chinese government has been accused of arresting Falun Gong followers and subjecting them to organized torture, including forced organ harvesting.

The CCP and Religion

The Chinese Communist Party promotes atheism and encourages citizens to distance themselves from religion. Around 281 million members of the CCP and its affiliated youth organizations are officially prohibited from participating in most religious activities.
While occasional temple visits under cultural pretexts are tolerated, regularly attending religious events or consulting astrologers can lead to expulsion from the party. Still, some CCP members maintain religious beliefs or engage in religious practices, though at lower rates than the general population.

Restrictions on Children and Youth

According to the Chinese Constitution, children under 18 are not allowed to adopt any formal religious identity. Religious education—including Sunday schools, summer religious camps, and youth faith groups—is banned. Schools promote secularism and atheism, and most children join youth organizations affiliated with the CCP, where they are sworn to atheism.

Historical Perspective on Religion in China

This attitude toward religion has existed since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Early CCP leaders portrayed religion as “foreign cultural imperialism,” “feudal ideology,” and “superstition,” and religious groups faced widespread persecution.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), Chairman Mao Zedong pledged to eliminate the “Four Olds”: old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas. The Red Guards attacked and destroyed many temples, churches, mosques, and religious sites.
From 1966 to 1976, all religious activities and organizations were banned. Under Mao Zedong’s leadership during the Cultural Revolution, thousands of religious sites were demolished, and all religious activities were outlawed. This movement was launched by Mao to reinforce communist ideology and eliminate religion at its roots. This reality posed a challenge for the CCP, which, as an atheist institution, banned religious practice among party officials after coming to power in 1949.