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CNN Sunday Morning
Many Chinese Turn to Religion
Aired November 10, 2002 - 09:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: China still places restrictions on the practice of religion, but in recent years, it has allowed more freedom than it once did. CNN's Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz reports on the role of religion in that communist country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Once condemned by Karl Marx as the opiate of the masses, religion is again flourishing in communist China. Unofficially sanctioned churches and underground meeting places, old faithfuls and young converts seek refuge from the maddening market economy and rampant materialism. China's high-speed growth is one of the Communist Party's proudest achievements, but it has also been socially destabilizing. Money worship, egotism, widespread corruption and rising crime are triggering an acute need for a spiritual anchor among China's masses.
FRANCIS ZHANG TIANLU, BEIJING CATHOLIC PRIEST: They are looking for the purification and the holification and the peace and stability in the conscience.
FLORCRUZ: Many spiritually adrift Chinese turn to religions like Buddhism, Daoism and Christianity. Others join spiritual groups like the Falun Gong -- a sect which claims 17 million members, was banned three years ago after Beijing branded it "an evil cult."
DAI QING, AUTHOR (through translator): The emergence of Falun Gong and the resurgence of religions is due to the fact that communism no longer fulfills the people's desires and needs.
FLORCRUZ: Fifty-three years after sweeping to power, the Communist Power seems out of synch with the new generation, more attracted to money than ideology.
To win them over, orthodox communists have promoted marchers and model workers as role models, but many Chinese now find them irrelevant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Model workers are a thing of the past.
FLORCRUZ: Some churches are attracting new believers.
BISHOP MICHAEL FU TIESHAN, BEIJING CATHOLIC DIOCESE (through translator): We offer Evangelical and English classes so young people come to the church with their friends. Older practitioners also bring their children and grandchildren to help them get to know Jesus.
FLORCRUZ: Christian leaders say spread of religious belief is good for the country.
ZHANG: The purpose of religion is a tool (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the stability of the society and to bring to goodness to the society.
FLORCRUZ: To that, communist leaders will probably say amen.
(on camera): A growing legion of Chinese are trying to bring meaning back into their lives by joining spiritual and religious groups. Beijing's pragmatic leaders have no problem with that, as long as the groups they join do not blatantly oppose Communist Party rule.
Jaime FlorCruz, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 10, 2002 - 09:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: China still places restrictions on the practice of religion, but in recent years, it has allowed more freedom than it once did. CNN's Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz reports on the role of religion in that communist country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Once condemned by Karl Marx as the opiate of the masses, religion is again flourishing in communist China. Unofficially sanctioned churches and underground meeting places, old faithfuls and young converts seek refuge from the maddening market economy and rampant materialism. China's high-speed growth is one of the Communist Party's proudest achievements, but it has also been socially destabilizing. Money worship, egotism, widespread corruption and rising crime are triggering an acute need for a spiritual anchor among China's masses.
FRANCIS ZHANG TIANLU, BEIJING CATHOLIC PRIEST: They are looking for the purification and the holification and the peace and stability in the conscience.
FLORCRUZ: Many spiritually adrift Chinese turn to religions like Buddhism, Daoism and Christianity. Others join spiritual groups like the Falun Gong -- a sect which claims 17 million members, was banned three years ago after Beijing branded it "an evil cult."
DAI QING, AUTHOR (through translator): The emergence of Falun Gong and the resurgence of religions is due to the fact that communism no longer fulfills the people's desires and needs.
FLORCRUZ: Fifty-three years after sweeping to power, the Communist Power seems out of synch with the new generation, more attracted to money than ideology.
To win them over, orthodox communists have promoted marchers and model workers as role models, but many Chinese now find them irrelevant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Model workers are a thing of the past.
FLORCRUZ: Some churches are attracting new believers.
BISHOP MICHAEL FU TIESHAN, BEIJING CATHOLIC DIOCESE (through translator): We offer Evangelical and English classes so young people come to the church with their friends. Older practitioners also bring their children and grandchildren to help them get to know Jesus.
FLORCRUZ: Christian leaders say spread of religious belief is good for the country.
ZHANG: The purpose of religion is a tool (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the stability of the society and to bring to goodness to the society.
FLORCRUZ: To that, communist leaders will probably say amen.
(on camera): A growing legion of Chinese are trying to bring meaning back into their lives by joining spiritual and religious groups. Beijing's pragmatic leaders have no problem with that, as long as the groups they join do not blatantly oppose Communist Party rule.
Jaime FlorCruz, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
