Religious Independence

Religious Independence

Freedom from Foreign Control Religious independence means freedom from foreign domination or control. Management of religious affairs remains the exclusive responsibility of followers of religions in China. Informing this decision are historical facts about a prolonged period of imperialist aggression and plunder in China, during which some religious organizations were manipulated and controlled by imperialist forces in pursuit of their interests. Religious independence, a choice by China’s religious believers themselves, has been and remains a key principle that guides China’s religious organizations in handling relations with their foreign counterparts. To preserve such independence, a distinction has to be made between foreign infiltration and interference under the cloak of religion and normal religious exchanges. Friendly interactions between China’s religious groups and their overseas counterparts on the basis of equality and mutual respect are encouraged.

独立自主办教

独立自主自办是指中国的宗教事业由中国的宗教信徒自主办理，不受外国势力的支配和控制。坚持独立自主自办，是基于我国曾经长期遭受帝国主义侵略和掠夺、有的宗教被帝国主义控制和利用的历史事实，是我国信教群众的自主选择，是我国各宗教处理对外关系的一条重要原则。坚持独立自主自办原则，要把境外利用宗教进行渗透和宗教界的正常对外交往区别开来，鼓励和支持我国宗教界在独立自主、平等友好、互相尊重的基础上开展对外交往。