Religions in China

Arpy Gavlakian        Religion and Belief Systems

Sense the Cultural Revolution many students dropped out of school and became Red guards meaning they most likely had to abandon the religious beliefs they had grown up with. This was not only for the Redguards but for nuns and other religious characters. Nuns were treated with no respect because most people followed in Chairman Mao`s rules of forgetting old culture and old ideas and others were afraid to say anything against Mao. Before religion was “against the law” the religion people had belief in was mainly Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion based on enlightenment from stress or suffering from desire. One of Buddha`s sayings is,” Let us all be thankful for today, for if we did not learn a lot, at least we learnt a little. And if we did not learn a little, at least we did not become ill. And if we became ill, at least we did not die. So let us all be thankful.”

Confucianism is also a religion based on the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucian. This was practiced (and still is) during the Cultural Revolution. Confucianism was most likely to be banned also. One of Confucian`s sayings is,” Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.”