Chinese Communist to give-up religion or face punishment

Members of China's Communist Party need to give up religion and "be firm Marxist atheists" or face punishment, the country's religious affairs regulator, said, reported Global Times.

"Party members should not have religious beliefs, which is a red line for all members", wrote Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, in the latest issue of the Party's flagship magazine.

The Party exhibited a cautious tolerance towards religion but it prohibits its nearly 90 million Party members from holding religious beliefs, says the Council on Foreign relations, a US think tank.

"Party members should be firm Marxist atheists, obey Party rules and stick to the Party's faith ... they are not allowed to seek value and belief in religion," Wang said.

UCJ, UNILORIN.