Top political advisor stresses rule of law in managing religious affairs

[rug]

Yu Zhengsheng (R front), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, visits Yingli Solar Company in Baoding City, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 31, 2015. Yu made an inspection tour in Hebei from Jan. 29 to 31. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

English.news.cn | 2015-01-31 19:19:09 | Editor: Xiang Bo

SHIJIAZHUANG, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng has called for efforts to administer religious affairs in accordance with the law.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Baoding City in north China's Hebei Province between Jan. 29 and 31, with religious work as one of his focuses.

"Religious work should be advanced along the legal track and in accordance with religious laws," Yu said while visiting the city's churches and temples.

He encouraged religious circles to contribute to economic and cultural development, and social harmony.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2015-01/31/c_133961291.htm

Sounds lovely.

[Igel]

1. Makes some assumptions about what the laws are.

Try "race relations should be governed by the rule of law."

In 1950 there'd be one reaction to that from progressives; in 2015, quite another. The laws reflect the majority views of society, for the most part, and in those societies minorities have to be protected from majoritarianism. In other societies, the laws reflect those of an oligarchy or set of autocrats, and in those societies the "social engineers" dictate what should happen--and then both the majority and the minorities have to be protected.

Typically one invokes "we must respect authority and abide by the laws" only when we like the laws, feel supported by the laws, or see our enemies hurt by the laws. That is almost always the root definition of "fair".

[rug]

2. That's precisely it.

All sorts of abominations take pace in the name of law.

[Cartoonist]

3. Just a simple way of saying

The law comes first, religion last.

[okasha]

4. Chinese law

apparently has no problem with ethnic cleansing or executing dissidents.

Thank you for this post. It shows up the utter insincerity of your hand-wrInging "sympathy" for Native American issues.

[Cartoonist]

5. Wow, that was quite a stretch

I was merely commenting on the statement, not supporting anything negative. But you go on being you.

[okasha]

6. None at all, actually.

Perhaps you're unaware that it was once against the law for Native Americans to practice our own faiths.

[Cartoonist]

7. Yet you still don't get it

You still absolve Christianity of things like that. What did Native Americans once call those who converted to Christianity?

[okasha]

8. I get it just fine.

Your double standard is showing.

To answer your qustion with a partial list in only one language--agitsi, edoda, igido , atsutsa etc..

[Cartoonist]

9. What double standard?

They persecuted Native Americans for practicing their own religion and you call it a land grab. As for that Chinese statement, I see it no differently than saying here, the Constitution comes first, the Bible should have no say in our laws. Does that mean I believe American justice has been a sweet ride for everyone? Of course it hasn't.

[okasha]

10. Uhm, no.

The land grab came well before the attempt to do away with indigenous religions; in fact, it was the reservation system that made the latter possible.

Here's your double standard:

Atheist persecution of indigenous peoples and their religion: Doubleplus Good.

Christian persecution of indigenous peoples and their religions: Doubleplus Bad.

[Cartoonist]

11. Atheist persecution of indigenous peoples

Where have I shown support for that?

[okasha]

12. In your OP.

Or perhaps you're blissfully unaware of the current ethnic cleansing being conducted by Beijing against the Uyghurs?

[Cartoonist]

13. reply #5

You got it wrong, again.

[okasha]

14. Your customary fallback reply.

Meaningless.

[Cartoonist]

15. ?

How you can interpret my remark as support for the Atheist persecution of indigenous peoples is ridiculous.

[Brettongarcia]

16. when religions conflict, law is useful