Religious Freedom and Chinese Society: A Symposium of Case Analysis
Religious Freedom and Chinese Society: A Symposium of Case Analysis was held at Purdue University on May 5-7, 2014. The symposium gathered together over thirty clergies, attorneys and educators who have made important contributions to the active promotion, protection and fight for religious freedom and rights in China. Concerned with the increasing deprivation of rights in contemporary China, participants had in-depth discussions and heated debates on the relationship between religious belief and citizen’s rights and between religious freedom and state power, and the multiple dimensions of rights defense.
Through three-days of engaging discussions, some consensus was reached about religious freedom. After further discussion among the symposium participants, a text entitled “Purdue Consensus on Religious Freedom” was generated so that the understanding of religious freedom can be spread and greater attention can be paid to the issues of religious freedom in China. The text and signatories of the Purdue Consensus on Religious Freedom are made public on May 14, 2014.
Purdue Consensus on Religious Freedom
“Religious Freedom and Chinese Society: A Symposium of Case Analysis” was held on May 5-7, 2014 at Purdue University. The participants included lawyers, ministers, and scholars. Through engaging discussions, some consensus was reached. Consequently, some participants proposed to draft a text of consensus for signatures so that the understanding of religious freedom can be spread and greater attention can be paid to the issues of religious freedom in China. The text was finalized after further discussion by the symposium participants. The text and signatories of the Purdue Consensus on Religious Freedom are made public today (May 14, 2014).
For those who want to support this consensus, please send an email to religiousfreedom2014@gmail.com. Please include at least this information: your full name, profession, and residence.
“Purdue Consensus on Religious Freedom” with Signatories
We are deeply concerned about the following reality:
- China’s Constitution and law lack a clear definition of and sufficient protection for religious freedom.
- Misunderstanding, violation, discrimination and persecution abound with regard to religious freedom in legal and social practices of China.
- As a result, intellectuals and the general public in China lack an understanding of and a basic consensus on the value and implications of religious freedom.
In accordance with the definition and protection of religious freedom prescribed by a series of international covenants on human rights, we hold the following beliefs:
- Religious freedom encompasses not only individual freedom of conscience and the freedom to express belief or disbelief in a religion, but also the freedom of family members (adults and children) to adhere to and to express their religious faith, the freedom of parents to instruct their children in their religious faith, the freedom of parents to choose religious education for their children, and the freedom of children to practice their religion and receive the religious education chosen for them by their parents. Religious freedom also encompasses the freedom of religious groups to practice their faith, to worship together, to establish religious venues, to use religious symbols, to publish religious books, and to disseminate religious faith.
- Religious freedom is a basic and core value of modern nations and societies. Without full protection of religious freedom, other freedoms such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of expression, the freedom of thought, the freedom of academic pursuit, the freedom of family, and the freedom of education that are guaranteed by the Constitution will not be fully protected in reality.
- Religious freedom implies that religious faiths and non-religious systems, whether in private or in public, are entitled to equality with respect to free expression and legal standing. Neither religious nor non-religious systems shall be deemed negative and discriminated against.
- Religious freedom implies a constraint on state power, i.e. the state cannot pass judgment on any religious or non-religious system as doctrinally or morally right or wrong, good or bad, let alone penalize citizens on basis of such judgment. Neither can the state make any religious or non-religious system the basis for the state’s legitimacy and accord it a preferential legal status.
- Religious freedom implies that the state has no right or moral authority to distinguish between “legitimate religion” and “feudal superstition,” between “orthodox religion” and “heterodox cult,” between “orthodoxy” and “heresy.” Members of any traditional or emerging religion shall not be subject to government censorship or legal judgment for merely believing, expressing, disseminating, or practicing their religious faith.
To that end, we fervently appeal that:
In legal and public life, all Chinese citizens, irrespective of their religion, denomination, and non-religious system, have the responsibility to respect, to protect, and to fight for the above principles and values of religious freedom.
Signatories:
| Professor Yang Fenggang |
Rev. Wang Yongxin (Thomas Wang) |
Rev. Liu Tongsu | Rev. Wang Yi | Attorney Teng Biao |
| Attorney Zhang Kai |
Rev. Hong Yujian | Rev. Fu Xiqiu (Bob Fu) |
Mr. Ling Cangzhou | Attorney Xia Jun |
| Rev. Man De (Guo Baosheng) |
Rev. Yan Xin’en (John Yan) |
Mr. Wu Chaoyang | Attorney Chen Jian’gang |
Rev. Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin) |
| Attorney Li Xiongbing |
Attorney Li Heping |
Dr. Liu Junning | Professor Zhang Qianfan |
Professor Sun Yi |
| Rev. Chen Yaomin | Rev. Jin Zhongquan | Rev. Wang Baoluo (Paul Wang) |
Attorney Zhang Peihong |
Mr. Zan Aizong |
| Rev. Li Yading | Mr. Chen Yongmiao | Attorney Li Subin |
Attorney Li Fangping |
Attorney Sui Muqing |
| Attorney Jiang Tianyong |
Attorney Sun Guodi |
Professor Xing Fuzeng (Ying Fuk-Tsang) |
Dr. Zhang Zhipeng | Mr. Zhu Ruifeng |
| Rev. Wang Wenfeng | Attorney Zhuang Daohe |
Attorney T ang Jitian |
Attorney Xiao Fanghua |
Attorney Wang Cheng |
| Attorney Tang Jingling |
Attorney Liu Shihui |
Mr. Fan Xuede | Dr. Xia Yeliang | Rev. Liu Fenggang |
| Mr. Liu Guan | Rev. Wang Zhiyong (Paul Wang) | Rev. Zhang Boli | Attorney Zhang Liheng |
Professor Chen Zuoren (Stephen Chan) |
| Attorney Liu Weiguo |
Professor Sze-Kar Wan |