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Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
CHINA
Religion
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Religions:
Daoist
(Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1% (est.) Note: officially
atheist.
Although
the government encourages atheism, the Chinese constitution guarantees
religious freedom (within certain constraints). Buddhism, Islam,
and Christianity are the three major formal religions practiced in China.
However, even larger numbers of Chinese believe in traditional Chinese
philosophies, notably Confucianism, and folk precepts such as Taoism.
The principal
religions and philosophies are Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism.
There are 100 million Buddhists and approximately 60 million Muslims, five
million Protestants (including large numbers of Evangelicals) and four
million Roman Catholics, largely independent of Vatican control.
Confucianism,
although not a religion with a divine deity, has great influence on Chinese
society. Confucius was a Chinese scholar and statesman who lived
during feudal times over 2,000 years ago. He established a rigid
ethical and moral system that governs all relationships.
Confucius
taught that the basic unit of society is the family. In order to
preserve harmony in the home, certain reciprocal responsibilities must
be preserved in relationships. These relationships are between ruler
and subjects, between husband and wife, between father and son, between
elder brother and younger brother, and between friends. Since all
but the last are hierarchal, rank and age are very important in all interactions.
All actions of the individual reflect upon the family, and filial devotion
is of utmost importance. The virtues of kindness, propriety righteousness,
intelligence, and faithfulness are deeply revered.
Links
to More Information
Eastern
Religions: Confucius
Who
is Confucius?
World Religions
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