Religious revival in China

The Chinese leadership faces a serious problem with the revival of the religious interest in China. Mao used to say that 'religion is poison'. Fine, but now the Middle Kingdom counts a couple of hundred millions of religious practitioners. The question is how to keep this flock under the Party's control.
President Hu says that the Party 'mentors' should be "politically reliable, intellectually knowledgeable, and morally convincing."
Not easy to find such a rare birds. 
Recently Zhu Weiqun, the Executive Vice Minister of the United Front Work Department which deals with minorities and religious issues, went to Tibet on an inspection tour. In Shigtse,, a met a good 'Living Buddha' ... from Italy.
Xinhau reported: "The Tibetan Gangjan Living Buddha from Italy, who just returned to TAR, presented white 'hada' [khata] to greet Vice Minister Zhu Weiqun. During his stay, Zhu and Gangjan Living Buddha planted two pine trees on the hillside in front of the Gangian Monstery to pray for the prosperity of China and the sound development of Tibetan Buddhism.
Zhu spoke highly of Gangjan Living Buddha for his love for China  and courage to stand up for truth and against the foreign separatist forces. Ganggian Living Buddha is a respectable Buddhist who has devoted himself to promoting Buddhist doctrines in Europe. He has won great respect among the European followers, according to Zhu." 
Outsourcing is probably the best solution.

SARA Chief Speaks on Strengthening the Training and Education of Religious Personnel     
On August 18, Wang Zuoan, the chief of the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) gave a speech to representatives of patriotic religious leaders in Beijing, “Strengthen the Training and Education of Religious Personnel.” Wang pointed out that most of the religious personnel cannot keep up with the demands of the ever growing population of religious followers in China. The authorities ought to strengthen training and education, implement filing and recording systems, and emphasize supervision and management. In particular, Wang mentioned Hu Jintao’s “hope” for religious personnel – “politically reliable, intellectually knowledgeable, and morally convincing.”
Source: Web site of United Front Work of Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party.
http://www.zytzb.cn/09/newscenter/benwang/201008/t20100819_676230.html

A Revolution under religious Flag

For centuries, the Lamas of Tibet (on the picture, the Fifth Dalai Lama with the Chinese Emperor during the 17th century) have provided spiritual leadership to China. One can envisage that this situation could happen again. Once in an interview the present Dalai Lama told me that he always dream to perform one day the Kalachakra initiation on the Tienanmen Square. It is perhaps the best way to keep China united.


Famous American futurologist predicts China a revolution under religious flag

Moscow, 13 August, Intrefax - China lacks social stability which may result in a forced change of the regime under religious slogans, world's best known futurologist Alvin Toffler believes.
According to his scenario, "local religious acts of protest shall grow into a gigantic mass revolt" in China.
"It will be the major threat for the government, because the number of Chinese people affected with religion grows with a cosmic progression," Alvin Toffler said in an interview published Thursday by Argumenty Nedeli weekly.
Toffler forecasts the rise of "Chairman Mao II, a charismatic leader who will use public unrest to sweep away the current Chinese government and establish a rule which the West cannot even imagine."
"This will not be a Mao-communist or even Mao-capitalist. The country seeking for something to replace the quasi-religion of Marxism will accept Mao who is able to unite peasants, workers and the Third Wave young people under the religious banner," Toffler said.
According to him, Christianity may become such a religion "or, most likely, some kind of belief bred by sects flourishing across the country in abundance."
"After the seizure of the Zhongnanhai (the central government headquarters in Beijing - IF) the religious fanatics will take control over nuclear weapons. The consequences may be most unpredictable," Toffler noted.