Freedom of Religion or Belief
Respect for and protection of freedom of religion or belief have been part of China’s basic policy. The CPC first advocated freedom of religion or belief in 1923, two years after its founding, and this position has remained unchanged ever since, other than during the excesses of leftist radicalism. In accordance with Chinese laws and policies on religion, citizens of the People’s Republic of China have the freedom to believe or not to believe in any particular religion, or to affiliate with any particular denomination of a religion; non-believers may choose to become believers and believers may cease to be believers at any time. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or reject, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. Freedom of religion or belief is to be enjoyed under the premise that religion is practiced within the scope of the rights and obligations prescribed by the Constitution and laws, and that religious activities do not disrupt social stability, people’s work or their daily life.
宗教信仰自由
尊重和保護宗教信仰自由是中國對宗教問題的基本政策。中國共產黨從成立不久的1923年，就提出了宗教信仰自由政策。雖然后來在“左”的條件下這項政策也遭到破壞，但黨始終沒有改變這項政策。按照中華人民共和國法律和宗教政策，中華人民共和國公民有信仰宗教的自由，也有不信仰宗教的自由；有信仰這種宗教的自由，也有信仰那種宗教的自由；在同一宗教里面，有信仰這個教派的自由，也有信仰那個教派的自由；有過去不信教現在信教的自由，也有過去信教現在不信教的自由。任何國家機關、社會團體和個人不得強制公民信仰或者不信仰宗教，不得歧視信仰宗教的公民和不信仰宗教的公民。堅持宗教信仰自由，前提是宗教必須在憲法和法律規定的權利和義務范圍內活動，宗教活動不得妨礙社會秩序、工作秩序和生活秩序。
