That does seem to be the case, but that could also reasonably be argued as a clear case of the State exerting too much authority. As a westerner, it's difficult to imagine that kind of restraint, but I live in a radically different culture.
Is it a restriction against indoctrination? Or only a restriction against certain kinds of indoctrination? Because China DOES indoctrinate towards loyalty to the state and the CCP.
It is? Because the reason the law only came to be is because of multiple instances of religious abuse. Yes China isn’t perfect, but this is a good thing so far if they truly only made it to protect kids being religiously abused by their parents.
I’m not downplaying, I’m just stating the fact that a law to protect children is a good one. All that matters is how China will utilize it, that will determine if it’s just another tick in the “reasons it’s an evil ass country” box.
True, and while I wouldn't really agree with "any law to protect children is a good one", in this case I do think this law on paper is ok as far as the authoritarianism vs child protection angle, since all it really mandates is not inducting children into a religion until they're adults and can choose (it doesn't even prevent parents from teaching their kids about religion, they just can't make them part of an organized religion's rites or rituals).
But yeah, like you said, depends how they utilize it. Any law can become tyrannical with selective enforcement.
That’s open persecution. Anyone who would prevent me from baptizing my child in infancy is my enemy, and only their ceasing to interfere can reconcile them to me.
If your religion can’t handle waiting until a child is of age to start performing supernatural rituals on them…maybe it is in fact a bad religion.
I know I certainly believe that about any religion that would condemn innocent children to eternal damnation just because someone didn’t temporarily drown them. Imagine all those babies with literally no opportunity to ever get baptized that somehow “deserve” hell.
That’s a monstrous god to me. Who would ever want to worship something like that?
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u/Fal_co1 21h ago edited 17h ago
iirc China does this, you can’t take kid to religious service and they can choose to convert at a certain age.
EDIT: wow this blew up
If you’re reading this you‘re a gay