The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which officially promotes atheism and discourages religious practices among its members, has a more complex religious landscape than one might expect. According to a recent analysis by the Pew Research Center, some CCP members still identify with various religions, highlighting the diverse beliefs within the party.
Approximately 6% of CCP members formally identify with a religion, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, or Taoism. Surprisingly, this percentage is close to the 10% of Chinese adults who are not CCP members but practice religion, as revealed by the 2018 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS).
SPIRITUALITY
Moreover, the study reveals that CCP members often hold beliefs and engage in practices associated with Chinese spirituality. 40% of CCP members believe in fengshui, a traditional Chinese practice for harmony between humans and the environment. This is similar to the 48% among non-CCP members, according to the 2018 China Family Panel Studies survey (CFPS).
- 24% believe in Buddha and/or bodhisattvas, compared to 33% among non-members.
- 11% believe in Taoist deities known as immortals, versus 19% among non-members.
- Additionally, some CCP members participate in customs considered spiritual, even though the CCP officially considers them “superstition.” For instance:
- 7% of CCP members carry lucky charms or amulets to ward off bad luck.
- 19% have visited a temple in the past year to pray for good luck.
- 79% have visited the gravesite of a family member in the past year to honour deceased ancestors.
While the CCP tolerates occasional engagement in these practices, members who actively practice religion or superstition, such as frequent temple visits or consulting fortune-tellers, risk expulsion from the party.
REGULATION AND ATHEISM
It’s worth noting that the CCP, in addition to regulating its members’ religious beliefs, is officially atheist and promotes atheism in various aspects of public life. Despite this official stance, the study found that fewer than half of CCP members identified as atheists when asked about their religious beliefs.
The complexity of religious beliefs among CCP members may stem from various factors, including career benefits associated with party membership and differing motivations for joining the party. Measuring religion and atheism in China presents challenges due to varying research methodologies, which can result in different estimates of religious affiliation and atheism percentages.
