Religious activities are regulated in the People’s Republic of China. The Constitution protects the freedom of religious belief and regulates the freedom of religious activity. The history of a people dictates the freedoms which are granted in relation to ideology and activity in a country. The second paragraph of Article 36 of China’s Constitution states, “The State protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination.”
Normal religious activities are defined in the Shanghai Municipal Regulations for Religious Affairs as activities of the five nationally-recognized religious groups (the “big five”), namely, Buddhism, Daoism, Islamism, Catholicism, and Protestantism. These religious groups are organized by governing bodies, a branch of the government. The Provisions for Implementation of the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners in China further outlines religious activity as religious ceremonies that foreigners conduct or participate in according to their own religious belief customs and activities with regard to contact with Chinese religious bodies.
If extended an invitation by a Chinese religious body at or above the provincial level, and approved by the department of religious affairs at the provincial level, a foreigner may preach and expound scripture at a lawfully registered site for religious activities. Independent foreign religious organizations and their members must be approved by the State Administration for Religious Affairs before contacting departments of the Chinese government or Chinese religious circles in the name of the organization or as religious personnel.
Detailed regulations for registering foreign-independent religious organizations are not made public. Currently, registration of religions outside of the big five is limited. Less than ten licenses have been issued in Shanghai, which is currently the only city issuing this special certification. There has been one licensed organization, outside of the big five, which has been allowed to state publicly that it has received official recognition by the Chinese government. Organizations that have been issued a license have been able to establish a long history, its members have been represented within the highest government bodies of the country where the religion was founded, and key business people have had deep, trustworthy business relationships with Chinese government officials.