China’s Second Cultural Revolution

[TomSea]

China’s Second Cultural Revolution
by Thomas F. Farr
1 . 16 . 20

China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–76) occupies a place high in the annals of human savagery. Mao Zedong’s purges sought to purify Chinese communism and ended in catastrophic failure, leaving as many as 20 million Chinese dead and the nation’s stability in doubt.

The disaster provided incentives for change, some productive. China’s economy was unleashed in the 1980s by the quasi-capitalist policies of Deng Xiaoping, who declared, “to get rich is glorious.” But the Cultural Revolution also spurred Mao’s successors to greater success in suppressing religion.

Mao had overreached, attempting to eliminate all religion. He understood, as had Stalin and Hitler, that religion (some religions in particular) poses a threat to the totalitarian state by encouraging fidelity to a greater authority. Churches were desecrated, looted, and turned into factories and storerooms. Priests, pastors, and nuns were tortured, raped, murdered (some were burned alive), and imprisoned in labor camps. Lay Christians were paraded through towns and villages with cylindrical hats detailing their “crimes.” Millions died terrible deaths, including by starvation. Tens of millions were brutalized, their lives destroyed.

Read more at: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2020/01/chinas-second-cultural-revolution

This is sort of think tank stuff but Conservative and maybe Christian think tank stuff. I've seen this website before but haven't really read into it. Lots of feeback in the comments section.

[PeteS in CA]

In 2016 China’s current president, Xi Jinping, showcased the fruits of these efforts. In a speech that year he called for the “sinocization of religion,” the coercive transformation of China’s religions into an arm of the Communist Party. The results, played out in a series of official regulations since then, are a toxic blend of Mao’s ruthlessness and sophisticated 21st-century surveillance techniques—in effect, an updated religious Cultural Revolution.

The regulations are sweeping in their scope: “Religious organizations must adhere to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, . . . [and] adhere to the directives on religions in China, implementing the values of socialism.” No one under the age of 18 may attend any religious service or event whatsoever. “Underground” Catholic and Protestant churches, which have existed since the Cultural Revolution, are to be eliminated and Christians required to join the communist-controlled “Catholic Patriotic Association” and Protestant “Three Self Movement” churches.

To ensure his policy is implemented, Xi has placed the State Bureau of Religious Affairs firmly under party control and initiated a policy of surveillance, communist-style “reeducation,” and terror. The latest set of regulations, which go into effect February 1, make utterly clear (lest anyone in China or the West missed the point) the subordination of all Chinese religions to the Party and the state:

While the article's focus is on Christians, Muslims would also be affected, including those living peacefully (not just those in Xinjiang "province"). Stalin and Mao demanded absolute loyalty to the state and to their persons. It looks like Xi may be going that route.

[Absalom]

Second Cultural Revolution??? Er.........when did the first occur???
China from day one has been an introverted culture/society,
regardless of its rule, be it dynastic, beginning w/the Shang,
on to the Militarists and now the Marxists. But why?
Because ideas are a threat to closed societies.
So w/o self developed ideas the Chinese revert to
cheating, lying and stealing; now part of their character.
 

[PeteS in CA]

All Chinese people are alike, @Absalom?

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Second Cultural Revolution??? Er.........when did the first occur???

1966-1976.

[Absalom]

All Chinese people are alike, @Absalom?

-------------------------
Er........in a population of 1,400,000,000; it's highly unlikely that all will be alike, so you got that
one right.
Consider, Greece and Rome birthed Western Civilization, passing their attitudes of diversity and inquiry into the psyche of the future nation/states of Europe.
In contrast, Asia remained effectively closed until Britain opened the Indian Raj while Commodore
Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay, both occurring around mid-19th century.
These events opened the eyes of India and Japan to a larger and more advanced world while China remained insular.
Present Chinese attitudes and behavior in international relations is mute testament to the power
that the closed mind-set has on their persona and is the very reason they act as they do.