NOGO

Noone has any kind of freedom in China.
That includes all those government reps who simply follow directives and repeat the official line. Given the above your challenge is bogus.
Your point would be valid only if every other kind of freedom was upheld except freedom of religion but that is not the case.

The rulers of China understand that religion can be a force which would challenge their grip on power. Remember the Shah of Iran.

The problem is more fundamental than religion. It is a problem of freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of the press etc. Oviously you cannot stop people from believing but you can stop them from speaking, associating and publishing. So Chinese officials can declared that people have the freedom to believe.

You don't have to be a theist to feel oppressed in China.

[ August 29, 2002: Message edited by: NOGO ]</p>