Bible Removed from Online Retailers; Professor Says President Xi Jinping Controls Religions on Internet

By Editing Room
China
China is renewing and doubling efforts to nationalize Christianity. CBN

In recent years, the Chinese government has increased regulations on religious activities — and beginning this month, all Bibles were removed from online retailers. Global Times published an article stating thatBibles did not have issue numbers, which is in violation of the law. The article also claimed there was religious freedom for Chinese people.

Professor Ying Fuk Tsang, the director of the divinity school of Chung Chi College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, believes that the Chinese government is regulating the online access to religious information. Because of the event, Professor Ying published an article to analyze the reason why Bibles were removed and to point out the problems created by regulating religious information online.

After the Cultural Revolution, there were a shortage of Bibles in China, according to Ying. From 1980 to 1986, the China Christian Council published 3 million Bibles. However, it could not meet the demand. In 1988, the Amity Foundation and the United Bible Societies co-founded a printing company in Nanjing, which became the only place that could legally print Bibles. China Christian Council became the only organization that could legally publish and issue Bibles. Therefore, Bibles were sold in a closed-market. For the house churches to legally obtain Bibles, they were limited to purchasing them from the organization.

Professor Ying mentions that resources for other religions are allowed to be sold in general bookstores in China. According to the Administrative Licensing Act 2004, the Bible is the only one that the Chinese government did not approve for publishing, printing, exporting and issuing. Only the Christian Bibles were not available for public sale.

Professor Ying believes that such act shows the Chinese government worries if they open the Bible market to be freely operated, it would further stimulate the spread of Christianity.

As the internet became more and more popular in China, the Bible and other Christian books could be freely purchased online, which was against the restrictions that Bibles could only be bought at a designated place. After Xi Jinping became President, he put great emphasis on managing the Internet.

Professor Ying points out that forbidding online sales of the Bible and other Christian books is part of President Xi's New Age Religious Work. It aims to regulate the circulation of the Bible and Christian books online in order to establish a new order for the religious market.

Professor Ying expects the religious information online to become the target for regulation following the implementation of religious affairs.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

  • Woman pastor analyzes: How Chinese gender culture shapes female ministers’ roles in churches

    In traditional Chinese culture, deeply ingrained notions of gender roles, often expressed as "male strong, female weak," significantly influence the position of women in society and the church. This issue is particularly pertinent for female pastors navigating their roles in ministry. Rev. Dora Wang, Ph.D., from China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), recently addressed this topic in a seminar, sharing her insights on the challenges women face in ministry and proposing strategies to su

  • 4th Christian art biennale in Hong Kong concluding with record reception

    The fourth Christian Art Biennale, titled “The Splendor of Beauty in His Land,” opened on December 22 at Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong and will conclude tomorrow, January 1. The 10-day exhibition has drawn enthusiastic responses, surpassing previous years in attendance and impact.

  • 2024 report from Wycliffe Global Alliance shows status of Bible accessibility worldwide

    Wycliffe Global Alliance has published its 2024 Global Scripture Access Report, unveiling the latest status of Bible accessibility worldwide. The annual report is compiled using data from the Alliance’s partner organizations, including SIL International, the United Bible Societies, and others.

  • A Christian’s proper response to the sugar-coated bullet of influencer fame

    Today, I came across a thought-provoking story about a 2016 internet influencer from the U.S.. The case of Nicholas Perry raises a sobering question: Is it worth sacrificing oneself in the pursuit of views?