State Faith and Religious Faith in Today’s China

Abstract

This essay analyses the meaning of “state faith” in present day China. This idea of state faith can have three meanings. First, it can mean the state’s faith, or the faith of state. Second, it can mean the national faith, or the faith of the nationals. And third, it can mean the faith in the state, or the belief in the state. The essay then attempts to see whether ‘state faith’ in these three senses, does exist in the reality of China. It analyzes what characteristics they possess, and what relationships to ‘religious faith’ they have respectively.