Flashcards for Religion Under Mao Zedong

What was the PRC's stance on religion?

• Influenced by Marxism, religion was viewed as superstition used by ruling classes to suppress workers.

• Mao declared religion as "poison," comparing missionaries to Nazis.

• Religion was deemed unnecessary and escapist under worker-led power.

What actions were taken during the initial campaign against religion (1950)?

• Churches forcibly closed, properties seized or destroyed.

• Clergy abused; foreign priests and nuns expelled.

• Propaganda condemned religion via posters and loudspeakers.

Which religions were targeted during Mao's era?

• Chinese faiths (Buddhism, Confucianism).

• Major foreign religions (Christianity, Islam).

• Ancestor worship was condemned as superstition.

How were traditional ways and customs undermined?

• Rituals like wedding songs and festival dances were banned.

• Traditional life disrupted by collectivization policies.

• Agit-prop troupes replaced traditional storytelling with propaganda plays.

What were patriotic churches?

• State-controlled churches with clergy required to support the Communist regime.

• Conflict with the Vatican over state-appointed clergy, risking excommunication.

What happened to religion during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)?

• Religion was denounced as part of the "Four Olds."

• Public worship and ceremonies were banned; clergy imprisoned.

• Global condemnation was dismissed by the PRC.

How was religion linked to regional independence concerns?

• Religion tied to nationalism in Tibet (Buddhism) and Xinjiang (Islam).

• Fear of separatist movements led to Han Chinese resettlement in these areas.

What were the cultural consequences of Mao's policies on religion?

• Systematic suppression of religious practices and traditional customs.

• Shift of allegiance from religion to the Communist Party and Maoist ideology.

• Deep-rooted faiths like Buddhism and Islam partially survived.

What were the key dates in Mao’s religious policies?

• 1949-76: Mao’s rule in the PRC.

• 1950: Campaign against religion begins.

• 1958-62: Collectivization disrupts rural religious life.

• 1966-76: Cultural Revolution intensifies persecution of religion.

What were the key themes of Mao’s religious policies?

• Religion as a tool of control and a challenge to Communist ideals.

• Cultural transformation and enforced conformity to Maoist values.

• Ongoing fear of religious-inspired separatism in border regions.