Respect the religion
2002-6-11
In my opinion, religion problem is a very sensitive problem in a society. If a government doesn't treat it as a formal issue, they will be in trouble, in the history, a number of wars or big events were caused by the fight between two religions. The 9 丒 11 attack is the best example.
Any religion has it's believe, issue and some special customs. Sometimes it is different from or even opposite to the common society. Take an example, the Huis didn't eat pork as they consider that pig is a holy animal and it is their ancestor; the Arab cover themselves with long and white coat and never let others to touch their head, because they think that the top of the head is where one's soul locate.
China is a big nation contains 56 different religions in the whole country. So in the history, it has many stories about the religions. But there is a rule never changed, that the dynasty which keeps a good relationship with the minority will lead the nation much longer. The emperor who executed a policy of benevolence always keeps a good balance to other religions. Quite the contrary, the government which didn't respect the religion's belief always suffered the war and turbulence cause by the minority.
Since 1949, the new Chinese government has do it's best to keep a good relationship with the minorities. But mainly divided, there are several religions such like Buddhism, Islam and Christian. Buddhism, which came to China from India as early as the 1st century AD, was a more conventional religion. Islam came to China mainly from Central Asia , where it was practiced by many of the Turkic peoples. Christian missionaries have been active in China since Roman Catholics belonging to the Jesuit order arrived in the early 17th century. Almost every religion in the world has its basis in China . So sometimes our government has to do a mass of efforts on the different religions to let them live together peacefully.
In most of the place, the Han nationality takes about 96% of the population. So just like in my hometown, there are just 2 or 3 none-Han nationalities. Our teacher always told us to understand and respect their behaviors. And the government had also carried out some advantage to the minority. Take a sample, when the child of a minority takes the university entrance exam with others, their score can be added by 20 marks just because they are the children of minority.
As me, I didn't have any problems with the other religions. Maybe just because I didn't live or get touch with a person who has their beliefs a long time. I can understand that there must be a lot of habits they have are quite opposite to me. But I don't know whether I can stand that when it becomes a big branching with us. I think it is a mutual problem. When different belief-keeping people live together, they had better to think over others feeling or customs.
After all, I think arguing and fight is not a good way to solve the religion problem. Respecting other religion is ours responsibility to everybody.
Thank you very much!
Last update: 01/18/2004 23:08