Mao Social Policies: Religion

Aims: Condemn religion Religion viewed as capitalist intervention Methods: -Closure of churches, temples, shrines and monasteries. -Foreign priests and missionaries expelled. -Chinese priests and missionaries forbidden to wear distinctive clothing. -Ancestor worship condemn -Traditional religious rituals banned -"Patriotic churches" which operated under government control -Clergy of these "Patriotic churches" had to swore loyal support for CCP -Some of these "Patriotic Churches" given state money in return -Religion denounced as belonging to the "four olds" -Buddha in Summer Palace destroyed in Aug. 1966 -No public worship/ceremonies -Clergy imprisoned -Temples, churches, religious images and shrines destroyed -Confucianism became known as "Confucius and Co." which referred to people and everything that belonged to the past -Lama Faith outlawed -Communists imposed strict policies on Tibetans, forced to grow wheat and maize and move herders to higher farm grounds which cause the yak to not roam Effects: Successful in condemning, however religion was still practiced in private.

Conform the religious institutions to Mao ideology

-Christian Protestant Church created the "Three-Self Patriotic Movement" (TSPM) = only legal Protestant denomination in China

Eradicate religion In Cultural revolution (1965)

-Private belief still remained strong in remote areas -People accused of being "Confucius and Co.". -1973: Anti-Confucius campaign, Lin Biao accused of being "one of the Confucius's of contemporary China"

Removal of Lama Faith (a form of Buddhism)

-Starvation and famine -> death of a quarter of the Tibetan population (cut in supplies of milk, cheese, meat and yak hair which was used for clothes and tents) -Panchen Lama sent Mao a letter, accusing him of genocide ->Mao regarded it as a lie -Lama Faith in Tibet inspired continue resistance to Chinese occupation (in Tibet)