Superstition in the People's Republic of China

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"Don't use religion to interfere" in China
The Straits Times, 18 August 2000. Chinese spiritual leaders warn foreign countries against meddling in its affairs in the name of religion, and they deny Beijing lacks religious freedom. The use of religious freedom as an excuse to fuel separatism goes against the world's religions, says the Venerable Jamyang, vice-president of the Buddhist Association of China.
Internal religious strife mars China's record
By Mary Kwang, The Straits Times, 20 December 2000. The three-month-old religious conflict in eastern Shandong province and neighbouring Hebei province is a dark blot on China's record of generally harmonious relations between the majority Han Chinese and religious minorities. Said to be a minor issue that had been exaggerated by the Western media.

The history of traditional beliefs in China

Cremation in China
A dialog from the H-Asia list, November 1995. While Chinese learned to cremate their dead from Buddhist missionaries, the question is, when did cremation became a widespread practice?
Impersonator of the dead
Dialog from H-Asia list, 6 December 1997. Is there a tradition of a female shi? Normally it is the son who plays the ritual role in traditional Chinese funerals of the shi (impersonator of the dead). Since the impersonator of the dead need only be a living descendant, in theory there would be nothing to bar a woman from service in this critical role. Reference cited.

The history of Islam in China

Millions of Chinese Moslems Celebrate End of Holy Month Ramadan
China News Digest, 22 January 1999. In Beijing, the imam of the Dongsi Mosque observed that the 250,000 Moslems in Beijing had their choice of 68 mosques for services. In the main Moslem regions such as Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia, shops were brimming over with food and drink to celebrate the end of Ramadan. In the State-owned units Moslems enjoy a one-day holiday—Eid al-Fitr—the first day after Ramadan.
More on Islam in China
By SIA Ka-Mou, The Jakarta Post, 8 June 2002. The embrace of Islam in China happened almost 1,000 years earlier than in Indonesia, as early as the Sui dynasty (581–618 A.D.). Separatism in Xinjiang, in fact, is not because of Islam but owing to Pan-Turkism. The Nestorian branch of Christianity actually came to China earlier than Islam, but was rejected.

The history of cults in China

New Chinese body to promote ‘qigong’
By David Hsieh, The Straits Times, 6 December 2000. In a move to counter the growing number of cults, the Anti-Cult Association (Casa) will help design different qigong exercises for different physiques. Mr He Zuoxiu, a well-known cult basher and co-founder of Casa said his organisation will carry out the project with the State Sports General Administration.
Assault on cults
The Straits Times, 6 December 2000. In addition to the already outlawed Falungong, the China Anti-Cult Association (Casa) has its sights on what it calls sub-qigong cults currently active in China and also potential cults among China's underground Christian groups. Expert says it is all right to spread a religion's aims and beliefs but cults should not spread their ideas as being normal.

The history of Christianity in China

Chinese Catholics criticise Vatican
By Francesco Sisci, The Straits Times, 6 October 2000. Local Catholics, owing no allegiance to Rome, want the Pope to repent for his canonisation of missionaries Beijing says helped persecute Chinese. Chinese Catholics also asked the Pope not to set up barriers to China-Vatican relations. The canonization halted progress toward normalized relations.