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Religions, like concrete contributions from all walks of life, have a role to play in the building of a harmonious society.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, confirmed the contribution religions have made to the progress of the country and stressed the importance of their roles in building a harmonious society when he talked to heads of religious organizations on Tuesday.

This indicates the inclusiveness and pragmatism of the Communist Party of China coinciding with what an increasingly pluralistic society actually needs.

It would have been unimaginable before the 1970s when ideology featuring class struggle dominated.

Jia sends an explicit message that religions, rather than just engaging in their own religious affairs and beliefs, could be one of the social forces that contribute to the building of a harmonious society.

Behind such acknowledgement is, in the first place, the deep understanding of the complexity of present-day Chinese society.

Increasingly pluralistic and economically developed as the society is, its texture is much more complicated so are the contradictions and relationships among and between different social groups.

In a CPC document from 2003, religion is explained as a social phenomenon with a great base among the general public.

This explanation is different from the one in the past that considered it an opiate to distract believers from their worldly worries and sorrows.

This new understanding suggests an official belief that atheism and freedom of religious beliefs can co-exist, and that religions can positively contribute to social progress.

As a matter of fact, religions may help cultivate believers' moral integrity against materialistic temptations and build their will against adversity.

Islam, Christianity and Catholicism, the three largest religious organizations in China, have their own taboos and codes of conduct for their followers.

They include those that prohibit followers from committing such sins as stealing, robbing, telling lies, coveting the wealth of others and those encouraging followers to help those in need.

The same is true with Buddhism and indigenous Taoism, whose doctrines also encourage followers to conduct good deeds to accumulate merit for their happiness in the next world.

All these exactly match what a decent citizen is required to be today.

From this perspective, religion can certainly contribute to the building of a harmonious society.

(China Daily November 16, 2006)