The Times has a report that the Chinese authorities have begun to talk to the underground 'house' churches whose attendees hold more members than the Communist party. No doubt there is some overlap between the two movements.
He added that the Government wanted to discuss the position of house churches and to evaluate whether they posed a threat to the regime. They also wanted to know why the house churches could not accept the leadership of the official body.
Even more surprisingly, they appeared to want advice. “They wanted to know our requirements when it comes to setting future policy,” Pastor Jin said, without elaborating.
In a report on the meeting, another house church pastor wrote that one of the main topics was the difficulty of keeping the unofficial church under the Government’s heel. Pastors say that raids, fines and even punishments such as re-education through labour are no longer effective; if one church is broken up new ones are started.
A senior economist, who openly declares his faith, said: “The closer understanding may have come in meetings between jailed pastors and the police, and those changes in attitude meant this day could come.”
Reports on religion in China demonstrate how far the authorities have lost their ability to set an ideological monopoly and their capability to enforce their power over wider social trends. The 'house' churches in China are indicative fo a wider pluralism within the society. As the economy enters choppy waters, it is noteworthy that the Communist party wishes to co-opt and co-operate with independent movements within the middle class.