Protestantism in China: A Dilemma for the Party-State

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between the Chinese state and Protestantism. It demonstrates that it varies widely from place to place; moreover, the actual relationship between individual churches and the local authorities that are supposed to govern them paints a quite different picture from that implied by the laws and regulations. The pa- per also argues that the state faces a dilemma: On one hand it feels threatened by the appearance of autonomous organizations such as un- regis-tered churches, while on the other it values the contributions they make to society and recognizes that subjecting them to the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and China Christian Council would require a good deal of force and be very socially disruptive.