The major religions in China are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Chiristianity, each having a number of schools and sects. The freedom to practise religious activities is guaranteed in China’s constitution that “citizens enjoy the freedom to belive in religion and the freedom not to believe in religion and to propagate atheism.” The government does not interfere with the believers activities. At the same time, it requires that, for normal social order and for mutual respect between the believers and the non-believers, religious activities be carried on within the premises of temples, mosques and churches, which are protected by the government. The government also requires that the non-believers abstain from going into temples, mosques and churches to propagate atheism.

The Chinese government has established the Bureau of Religious Affairs to supervise all aspects of religious practices in China. The Bureau is the head of several nationwide associations: the Three-self Patriotic MovementCommittee of the Protestant Churches of China, the Chinese Buddhist Association, the Chinese Islamic Association, the Chinese Taoist Association, and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Each association defines its own aims, publishes its own journals, handles its own religious affairs, and sets up its own religious institutes of higher learning to train its new staff and researchers. Relations with religious bodies outside China are being established and developed through visits, contacts and mutual respects.