“Forum on Chinese Religion and Rule of Law” was Held in Hangzhou

On November 24, 2018, the “Forum on Chinese Religion and Rule of Law” was held in Hangzhou. The Forum was hosted by Law and Religion Research Center of Law School, and National Academy of Development and Strategy, Renmin University of China, organized by Zhejiang Institute of Rule of Law and School of Law, Zhejiang Gongshang University.

Qian Tianguo, Vice-president of Zhengjiang Gongshang University and President of Zhejiang Institute of Rule of Law, hosted the opening ceremony, Chen Zhenhua, Deputy Director of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of Zhejiang, Jin Yibin, Party Secretary of Zhejiang Gongshang University, Professor Feng Yujun, Director of Law and Religion Research Center of RUC Law School, Liu Jinguang, President of China Religion Magazine delivered speeches at the ceremony respectively. About 100 scholars and experts from universities and research institutes all over the country came to participate in the forum.

Professor Feng Yujun explained that at new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, religious affairs and its legal governance faced with several new features. The basic strategy of religious governance is to protect the legal practices, forbid illegal activities, contain extremists, and resist penetration as well as fight criminals. National governance on religious affairs uses the method of “guidance”. Religious governance must balance the rights of religious freedom and national power of state over religious groups, colleges, worship places and religious activities. The basic objective of religious governance is to build positive and healthy religious relations, promoting harmonious relationship, national security and social stability.

Deputy Director Chen Zhenhua introduced the legal governance of religious affairs in Zhejiang province over the past years. Zhejiang made efforts to push forward the law-making of newly revised Regulations on Religious Affairs, making sure there are laws to go by first. A series of management systems related to religious activities, certificates, financial control are made according to the situations in Zhejiang. Zhejiang also integrated new technologies of internet, big data into the promotion of legal awareness in religious sectors.

Experts and scholars offered many meaningful suggestions on how to enhance the rule of law in religious works during the five panel discussions, including theory and practice of Chinese religion legal governance, implementation issues of newly revised Regulations on Religious Affairs, Religious commercial management and protection of religious legal rights and interests, history of religious legal governance and comparative research, internet religious communication and legal regulations on heresy and religious extremists.