Letter to the editor: Religious freedom

Notes: "Re: 'Some Christian leaders attend Beijing Olympic opening' (Aug. 9 Journal Web site)". "The apparent recognition of Fu Xianwei, chairperson of the officially-approved Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), as the voice of Protestants is dubious in view of all those groups considered seditious/unpatriotic and worse by the Chinese communist government. The article certainly invites critical interpretation. Perhaps some groups are comfortable with state-sponsored church such as the TSPM but I, in Canada, am definitely uncomfortable with the notion. The adherence to temporal authority seems to weigh more than humanity's direct connection with our maker. To me, such a perspective is part and parcel of the tensions highlighted at Lambeth [2008]. But perhaps it is not all bad for the TSPM does foster 'liberal theology' and resists dogma (but only taught by state certificated instructors)".

Subjects: Three-Self Movement; Xianwei, Fu, d. 2018; Christians - China; Church and state - China; Religious persecution - China