God and Caesar in China: Policy Implications of Church-State Tensions

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Religion's dramatic revival in post-Mao China has generated tensions between the ruling communist party-state and China's increasingly diverse population of religious adherents. Such tensions are rooted in centuries-old governing practices and reflect the pressures of rapid modernization. The party-state's policy response has been a mixture of accommodation and repression, with the aim of preserving monopoly control over religious organization. Its inability to do so effectively has led to cycles of persecution of religious groups that resist the party's efforts at control. American concern over official acts of religious persecution has become a leading issue in US policy towards China. The passage of the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, which institutionalized concern over religious freedom abroad in US foreign policy, cemented this issue as an item on the agenda of US-China relations. This book examines religion policy in China, the history and growth of the Catholic and Protestant churches in China, and the implications of church-state friction for US-China relations. It concludes with recommendations for US policy.

Reviews

This illuminating book is essential reading for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of the hopes and challenges faced by Christians in China. The contributors provide vital historical context in detailing the complex struggle between church and state that is unfolding in the world's most populous country. The tale is both inspirational and sobering. It is presented with commendable objectivity. The result is a slim volume filled with useful insights for policymakers and concerned citizens alike."- J. Stapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassador to China;

"To my knowledge there is no other publication that gives such an excellent overview of the Christian experience in China and presents such original discussion of the policy implications of U.S. and Chinese religious policies. The collection of chapters is exceptionally well organized and sequenced. I found myself reading the book eagerly."- Deborah Davis, professor of sociology, Yale University;

"Jason Kindopp and Carol Hamrin have produced a compelling account of China's complicated struggle with religion. The historic roots of this struggle go back thousands of years as the state has tried to control religious movements, and these movements have tried to influence and change China outside of state control. Kindopp and Hamrin emphasize the surge of religion as an indigenous force, and the Chinese government, which first tried to eliminate it, has now sought compromise and a modus vivendi. How this plays out will profoundly affect us all."- James R. Lilley, former U.S. ambassador to China

Author Bio

Jason Kindopp is resident scholar at the National Committee on United States-China Relations in New York and was a Civitas Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Carol Lee Hamrin is a Chinese affairs consultant and research professor at George Mason University. She served for twenty-five years at the U.S. Department of State, becoming its senior Chinese affairs specialist. Her major publications include China and the Challenge of the Future and Decision-Making in Deng's China.