Speech at the Forum of Asian Women Leader in Faith by Cao Shengjie（2008）

Efforts by Chinese Women Believers to Build Harmonious Society and Facilitate World Peace

Addressed by Rev.Cao Shengjie, Vice President of CCRP and Director of Consultant Committee of CCC/TSPM at the Forum of Asian Women Leader in Faith

For three decades since China’s reform and opening-up, economy has grown rapidly and society has changed quickly with each passing day. The state is implementing the policy of religious freedom and all religions all flourishing with believers increasing fast. For example, as Tibetan Buddhism grows fast, there are over 3,000 monasteries and 120,000 monks in Tibet up to now.

Like other countries in Asia, Female believers account for quite a lot in all religions in China. Before the establishment of People’s Republic of China, in a society of extreme poverty, Chinese women had sad destinies. Without independent selfhood and freedom, they were not only oppressed like men due to the semi colonial state, but also suffered from the affect of feudal thoughts of thousand of years. At that time, many women were converted to religion for escape from the reality and for the well-being afterworld. Now it is totally different. Gender equality is one of China’s set policies and the Development Outline for Chinese Women was enacted to safeguard women’s basic rights and interests. Nowadays, many old women believers have retirement pension and young ones have jobs and income. guided by the religious doctrines, women of faith are willing to integrate beliefs and life for the time being, and live a happy life while contribute to family, community, society and the state, which demonstrates glorifying the God and benefiting human being as what Christian religion says, the Buddhist ideas of blessing and giving joy to the living both in this life and in afterworld, and Islamic doctrine of enjoying secular and afterlife happiness. 

Observing the principles of peaceful development, mutual benefits and building a harmonious world with long-time peace and common prosperity, China is targeting at constructing a modern socialist country of mighty, democracy, civilization and harmony. The policies of building harmonious society inside and accelerating world peace outside, in particular, have got heartfelt welcome and support from religious believers, for all religions encourage people, with such virtues as benevolence, charity, tolerance, to cherish life, oppose to behaviors like bully, hegemony and violence. Women are more sympathetic and passionate to help others. Take women believing Christian for example, on one hand, they bear in mind what Bible says, if possible, try best to make people harmonious. Blessed are peacemakers. On the other hand, the past experience convinced that women and children are the most vulnerable in case of war or conflicts. Therefore, we have to love peace and we, women of faith in China, are striving for it.

To this end, we are doing the following works.

One, to pray for world peace.

China Committee on Religion and Peace (CCRP), participated by representatives from all religions, advocates that all religious believers in the whole country pray for world peace according to their own religious rituals each August on the occasion of the anniversary of the Victory of World Anti-fascist War and Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Before or after Women’s Day each year, Christian women take part in the activities of World Day of Prayer, which procedure is determined by Christian women in different countries in turn, to introduce their situations and difficulties, pray for and show each other’s concern.

Two, to undertake international exchanges and enhance understanding and friendship.

In our opinions, in the era of multi-polarization and obvious regional conflicts, with a view to maintain world peace, people in every country and region should strengthen exchanges and friendship, dismiss misunderstanding, and know more each other’s real situations. For instance, what is true about Tibet is Tibetan Independence never happened in history, while China’s central government began to exercise sovereignty over Tibet as early as 700 years ago, even the title of Dalai Lama was conferred on him by Chinese emperor. We can see that it is very important for us to promote mutual understanding and exchanges. We never allow the religion to be misused by some political force.

For instance, 2007 is the 70 anniversaries of Nanjing Massacre, and Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in China and Japan held jointly the activity themed the Power of Peace-A Journey of Introspection to Nanjing, during which 19 friends from Japan and tens of representatives from China visited together the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. Seeing the portrait of the deceased one by one every 12 seconds and hearing the accusation of survivors with tears, they all realized that it is people that suffer most no matter in countries that are invaded or inflict the disasters.

At present, there are rumors in some country saying that China has no religious freedom. In the year of 2004, 2006,and 2007, the Christian delegation with me as head ever opened the Bible Ministry Exhibition of the Protestant Church in China, which told the world that China has published 430 millions Bibles from 1980-2006. As I know, in 2006, China’s Buddhists hosted the first World Buddhist Forum with the theme of A Harmonious World Begins in the Mind. Taoist circle in China launched International Forum on the Daodejing in 2007, titled Constructing a Harmonious World Through Dao. Female believers all took part in the activities mentioned above actively.

Three, to overcome exclusiveness and promote respect among different beliefs.

As a nation with multiple nationalities and religions, China has to well deal with the relations between the state and the religion, and also maintains the unity among all religions so as to build a harmonious society. Communist Party of China, the governing party believes in Marxism and atheism, but they also respect theism, treat all religions on an equal footing and pursue the policy of religious freedom. In China, all religious groups are equal, mutually respectful, getting along well together. Religious conflicts never take place and relations among them are in the best stage in China’s history. There are religious representatives as committee members in Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of national, provincial and municipal levels to discuss state affairs.

Naturally, different religions have different doctrines. However, it is easier to bring conflicts if we emphasize too much the exclusiveness of religion. Now, Chin’s Christian is carrying out study on theology, asking believers to have correct understanding about the doctrines of Belief and Disbelief in Bible, and respect, love and cooperate with those who don’t believe Christian in the attitude of non-opposition. China’s Islamic Association is also interpreting the Holy War in Koran reasonably. I think all of these are the right ways to reach religious harmony.

Four, to participate in social construction and supply more service.

To realize harmonious society, equality and justice have to be promoted and groups afflicted by poverty, aloneness, old age and Aids should obtain more care and service. Women, just as in religion of all countries, are always the most active to offer social service.

When China is stricken by disasters, all religions are all active to collect funds and offer aids. There are such examples. China’s Catholic Church has opened 31 clinics, providing special nursing for people afflicted with leprosy. As the average life-span of Chinese people has extended, many cities have been in an old-aged society, such as in Shanghai, 21% of populations are over 60 years old, and a large amount of the aged need help, so China’s Christian and Catholic Churches all established old-age homes, and offer house-keeping service. China Christian Council ever convened a meeting consisting of 22 principals of old-age homes all over the whole country, among which 14 people are women.

In the past, regarding Aids as the result of sexual crimes, Christian has discrimination upon people with Aids. Now, we launched many training programs in areas affected by Aids seriously to teach knowledge about it, such as the infection channels, precautionary measures, which dismissed many misunderstandings. YWCA also spreads related information about Aids in the form of performances on World Aids Day, getting fine effect.

To conclude, it is the common interests of Asian countries to maintain peace and stability, and advance regional development in Asia. China’s female believers are willing to facilitate exchanges and join hands with women in other Asian countries, and strive for Asian and world peace and prosperity.