are churches allowed in communist countries, I mean free churches, not state churches
2007-04-17 10:49:46 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Communist countries only allows state churches which are controlled by the government to function. These churches are usually just a front for the international free world to see that there is religious freedom but the truth remains that these churches do not have the life of Christ in them as every single sermon and activity is strictly censored and vetted through before it can be carried out.
Communism is the main religion in the communist countries (China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, etc) and persecution of believers still exist. As a tourist going into these countires, you will most likely not be able to sense or feel that religion is being suppressed and may even come away believing the lies of the local government that there is religious freedom allowed in their countries. The communist governments are so cunning and smart that they can manipulate and twist things such that "you see only what they want you to see, and hear only what they want you to hear!"
The only free churches that you find in the communist countries are the "underground home churches" where true believers of the faith meet in secrecy to praise and worship God. Persecution of Christians in communist countries still exist and most of the stories of people being arrested, interrogated, punished, tortured and imprisoned for their faith in God are being supressed from publication by the authorities.
If you want to read about the persecution of Christians in China, the story of Brother Yun's account of what he went through in China because of his faith should be an eye-opener for you. The book is entitled "The Heavenly Man" and I am sure after reading this true life story, you will come away convinced that there are Christians out there less fortunate then you and me (in terms of freedom to worship) yet with a faith that outshines ours - because theirs is a faith tested and tried by tears, blood and sweat! They were willing to die for what they believed!
2007-04-17 13:46:21 · answer #1 · answered by Seng Kim T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, we're down to a pretty short list right now: China, North Korea, Cuba, and maybe a couple others depending on how broadly you define 'communist'.
Historically, the Soviet Union used the Orthodox church as one more arm of state control; East Germany permitted the practice of religion (it was about as legal as any other non-state-sanctioned activity). In 1967, Albania claimed (with some accuracy, given the other communist countries' official attitudes toward religion) itself to be the world's first atheist state.
Communism functions as a religion in social terms; same sort of expectations of behaviour, same societal structure, even the same sort of jargon - switching "God" with "the State". Some communist states saw the church as a rival for hearts and minds; others tried to co-opt it.
2007-04-17 18:21:39 · answer #2 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check out China.......they ban religion. When the USSR was in full swing...banned religion. N. Korea bans religion.
One must understand, that in a communist country, Communism is the religion, or the state is the religion or the ruler is the "god". Provider of all.
2007-04-17 17:54:39 · answer #3 · answered by kickinupfunf 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are not many communist countries left. But I believe the answer is yes, because in communist regime the state assumes total control.
2007-04-17 17:52:49 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually not, at least, not completely. But they do push religion as far into the corner as possible and have been known to shut them down to. Depends on whether they see a church as being a threat to their state.
2007-04-17 17:56:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They usually pick a state church or decide to get rid of them all, since people usually have more of a devotion to the church than the gov't. But since they usually don't bother educating people either, the people fall back on the old superstitions.
2007-04-17 18:01:36 · answer #6 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in Marxist countries. Some countries in south america allow the Catholic church to operate independently.
2007-04-17 17:53:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They all have - to one degree or another, a church infrastructure made up of "house churches":
-Private discrete assemblies which tend to fly under the radar of the authorities' .
2007-04-17 18:01:27 · answer #8 · answered by icyimeir 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, religion does not fit with the communist ideaology.
2007-04-18 03:39:16 · answer #9 · answered by LillyB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the most part, no. It isnt really a rule, but in China and also in the USSR it was banned.
2007-04-17 17:53:04 · answer #10 · answered by crazy_airforce_guy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋