China's aim to secularize religion has resulted in efforts to rewrite the Bible, The Daily Signal reported.
In commentary posted Monday on the conservative news site, writers Emma Childs and Olivia Enos note the efforts come months after China banned purchases of the Bible on the Internet, one of the last legal ways to obtain a Bible in the country.
According to the writers, the Chinese government will incorporate Buddhist and Confucian teachings in the Old Testament and provide additional commentary on the New Testament that will bring it "in line with China's renewed efforts to cement nationalism within Judeo-Christianity."
"Also included in the five-year plan are efforts to marry Chinese characters, architecture, and other expressions of Chinese culture to a Christian's expression of his or her faith," they write.
The pair cite new reports on the plan from the Rev. Bob Fu, founder of the persecution watchdog organization ChinaAid — noting they follow "intensifying persecution of Christians in China," where "hundreds of churches" were closed in 2018, with their pastors either imprisoned or detained.
"Government altering of the doctrine of a historic religion provides the U.S. firm ground on which to stand against those attempting to impede religious freedom," they write, adding that Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have been leaders in advocating enforcement of Global Magnitsky Act sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for violations of religious freedom.
"The U.S. cannot sit back while these injustices persist, and should seek to hold Chinese officials accountable," they write.
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