China to Pope Francis: Don’t ‘interfere’ with religion

[hrmjustin]

Josephine McKenna

VATICAN CITY (RNS) China has reacted cautiously to a bid by Pope Francis to open new dialogue with Beijing, with some officials quick to warn the Vatican not to “interfere” with the country’s religion.

Catholic Church of the Saviour, also called Xishiku Church or Beitang, in the Xicheng District in Beijing, China. Photo courtesy of Fotokon via Shutterstock
On his return flight from a five-day tour of South Korea, Francis said he was ready to go to China — “For sure! Tomorrow!” — after receiving a positive response to two goodwill telegrams he sent to President Xi Jinping as the pope flew over Chinese airspace.
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/20/china-responds-pope-francis-tells-interfere-religion/

[rug]

1. "warn the Vatican not to 'interfere' with the country’s religion."

Does the People's Republic of China now have a state religion?

[hrmjustin]

2. They seem to want to control it.

Btw I am staying away from the other room today. I just need some space from it.

Won't be long but some went too far and they don't recognize that they did for the most part.

[rug]

3. They actually have set up some state-sponsored/approved churches.

Take your time. Some of them are there just for the sport. When they're losing, they get nastier. I could fill a level teaspoon with the sincerity of those posters.

[hrmjustin]

4. Thanks. I think the last few days was the worse I ever saw here.

[el_bryanto]

5. I went to see what was going on - and boy I made the right call trashing that room nt

[hrmjustin]

6. It was a disgusting display of hypocrisy and personal attacks.

I never felt so unwelcomed there before.

And the line that if we defend ourselves against the delusion claim we are showing our privilege was just priceless.

[el_bryanto]

7. They have the black and white logic of the fanatic in some regards

Either all beliefs are equally valid or no beliefs are valid at all. Either we except the suicides at Jonestown as legitimate religious practice or we have to condemn the local non-denominational Church as delusional.

Bryant

[hrmjustin]

8. I get the sense that there are some atheists who post in there are actively trying to

get believers to abandon their faith.

[el_bryanto]

9. Well - yes - of course. Several of them are very clear about that

They might use different terms, and will deny it when asked, but of course that's their goal in some cases. If you believe religion to be pirmarily a source of evil, it just makes sense that you would want to get people to be less religious.

It drives me nuts when a few of them - particularly dishonest ones - suggest "We just want to raise awareness of how religion can impact politics." So very disingenuous. As if in 90% of the cases believers aren't on the same page. There's only a few minor areas of disagreement politically, and yet it's necessary for them to bring into the religion forum continuous attacks on DU Believers. The goal is to belittle and minimize the practice of religion and belief.

Bryant

[hrmjustin]

10. There is a disconnect there.

Some seem to think all believers are alike and we believe alike.

And you do not see believers trying to convert others.

[el_bryanto]

11. Not DU believers at any rate -not generally. nt

[hrmjustin]

12. No we would not tolerate people saying things like repent and believe.

It would be completely inappropriate.

[okasha]

13. The belittling and minimalizing of believers

is a form of self-aggrandizement. It's not even really the big-fish-in-a-little pond syndrome. It's more like guppies who've convinced themselves that they're barracudas.

[el_bryanto]

14. They believe themselves to be right - we believe ourselves to be right

The difference is that our beliefs allow us to respect those who think differently than we do.

But they do have a point when it comes to society as a whole.

Bryant

[okasha]

15. Not sure what you mean in your last paragraph.

[el_bryanto]

16. I mean that Atheists do get a bad break in society as a whole. nt.

[okasha]

17. There is prejudice, certainly.,

especially among fundamentalists. But there is very little outright discrimination or persecution comparable to what LGBT's, Jews and Muslims, and people of color have experienced.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

18. I was told, in as many words, that there is no actual difference

Between a Primitive Baptist and Teilhard de Chardin.

[rug]

19. Lol!