Associations of five officially recognized religions in the People's Republic of China

In the People's Republic of China seven religious organizations are officially recognized: the China Islamic Association, the China Buddhist Association, the China Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement, the China Christian Council, the China Taoist Association, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Chinese Catholic Bishops College. The author analyses structures and functions of these organizations within the framework of the political system in the People's Republic. The thesis is that the present situation depends not only on the influence of Marxist-Maoist theories and practical problems of the Communist State but also on the long Chinese traditions of regulating the state-religion relationship. The theoretical reflections end with a comparison between China and the former German Democratic Republic.