- 12 May 2023 18:40
#15273943
This story is from 2018.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 56031.html
Authorities demolished a well-known Christian megachurch. Witnesses and overseas activists said the paramilitary People's Armed Police used dynamite and excavators to destroy the Golden Lampstand Church, which has a congregation of more than 50,000, in the city of Linfen in Shanxi province. Local authorities planted explosives in an underground worship hall to demolish it.
The building had been constructed with nearly $2.6 million in contributions from local worshippers in one of China's poorest regions.
The official reason given for the demolition was that the building had been constructed 9 years ago on farmland without the necessary permits, and under Chinese law all religious groups must register with local religious affairs authorities, which had not been done. (The likely reason it had not been done is because the local authorities wouldn't give their approval) There was a permit for construction on the land, but it was a permit for construction of a warehouse, not a church.
Freedom of religion is theoretically guaranteed under China's constitution, but local authorities often resort to the use of technicalities to attack unregistered churches. Charges of land or building violations and disturbing the peace are among the most common.
The government wants people of religious faiths to worship in state-sanctioned assemblies, some argue because it wants to keep a tighter control over religion and is concerned about formation of independent organizations of people forming in the society, which could potentially challenge the government or lead to "social disharmony".
Several leaders of the church had already been given prison sentences up to seven years for charges of illegally occupying farmland and disturbing traffic order, according to Chinese state media.
Skip to 8:25 in the video to hear about Chinese authorities keeping a close eye on foreign journalists coming to do an investigative documentary on Christianity in China. Almost like a Soviet-style police state.
Christianity Is On The Rise In China
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 56031.html
Authorities demolished a well-known Christian megachurch. Witnesses and overseas activists said the paramilitary People's Armed Police used dynamite and excavators to destroy the Golden Lampstand Church, which has a congregation of more than 50,000, in the city of Linfen in Shanxi province. Local authorities planted explosives in an underground worship hall to demolish it.
The building had been constructed with nearly $2.6 million in contributions from local worshippers in one of China's poorest regions.
The official reason given for the demolition was that the building had been constructed 9 years ago on farmland without the necessary permits, and under Chinese law all religious groups must register with local religious affairs authorities, which had not been done. (The likely reason it had not been done is because the local authorities wouldn't give their approval) There was a permit for construction on the land, but it was a permit for construction of a warehouse, not a church.
Freedom of religion is theoretically guaranteed under China's constitution, but local authorities often resort to the use of technicalities to attack unregistered churches. Charges of land or building violations and disturbing the peace are among the most common.
The government wants people of religious faiths to worship in state-sanctioned assemblies, some argue because it wants to keep a tighter control over religion and is concerned about formation of independent organizations of people forming in the society, which could potentially challenge the government or lead to "social disharmony".
Several leaders of the church had already been given prison sentences up to seven years for charges of illegally occupying farmland and disturbing traffic order, according to Chinese state media.
Skip to 8:25 in the video to hear about Chinese authorities keeping a close eye on foreign journalists coming to do an investigative documentary on Christianity in China. Almost like a Soviet-style police state.
Christianity Is On The Rise In China