Hai....
I read abit once in the past, about why China didnt allow
Vatican authority in the Chinese Catholic church.
First and foremost,
China does not persecute 'religion' per se.
China is wary and nervous of 'religious authority/
hirearchy'.
There is a significant difference between the 2.
For instance,
China disallow Vatican authority in the Catholic church there,
but Catholics are free to practice and worship as usual.
To understand this, we need to understand the history of China.
Why the leaders are so nervous of religious authority.
China has experienced numerous rebellions and uprisings from
religious authority in its history.
Therefore, religious authority is seen with anxiety, a potential
for problems and upheavals.
Similarly, Dalai Lamaism is disallowed, but that doesnt mean
Buddhism is disallowed or that other monasteries in other parts of
China/ monks cannot practice Buddhism as usual.
We need to understand China does not have an interest to
persecute 'religion' from a theological point of view, to keep
people as atheists. Religion is seen as a personal matter. This
philosophical viewpoint is over with. There is no debate there.
What they are wary of, is a religious structure or authority, which
can subvert the state.
In the most striking example is the Dalai Lamaism in Tibet. In
this instance, a religious authority has openly challanged the
state authority, in the form of separatism.
It can be a rebellion. No joke u know..?
Just see the current troubles in Tibet, I would say it is
influenced and unresolved to a degree because of the existance of a
non acquiesce-ing religious authority.
Meat Pao.
