₦airaland Forum

China tightens control over religion with ban on online preaching and AI use to sell religion.


The sweeping crackdown highlights Beijing’s effort to rein in commercialized faith while reasserting party authority.

Religion in China, once suppressed under Mao Zedong, has grown rapidly over the past four decades. Today, about 40 percent of mainland Chinese say they believe in deities, religious figures, or ghosts, even if only one in ten formally identifies with a faith. This revival has created what analysts call a “temple economy” worth more than $14 billion a year. From ticket sales and donations to digital rituals, livestreaming, and e-commerce, temples and clergy have found multiple ways to profit. But this growth has raised questions about whether religion is being over-commercialized and drifting away from its spiritual roots, the Financial Times reported.

New rules to curb online practices

The National Religious Affairs Administration has now introduced strict rules governing how religion can appear online. Only licensed temples, churches, and religious organizations may conduct preaching or training on websites and apps. Almost every other form of online commercial activity is banned, including livestreaming sermons, short video preaching, or charging for digital rituals such as incense burning and chanting. Clergy are also warned against using artificial intelligence to generate or distribute religious content, with the code citing concerns about “illegal information.” Authorities made clear that online fortune-telling, divination, and the spread of “heretical cults” will be targeted.

The Shaolin scandal as catalyst

The timing of the crackdown comes just weeks after the Shaolin Temple, a world-renowned Buddhist institution, confirmed that its abbot Shi Yongxin was under investigation. Shi, known popularly as the “CEO monk,” faces allegations of embezzlement, improper relationships, and behaviour said to violate Buddhist precepts. State media also reported that several of his associates have been detained for questioning. For many, the case symbolized how religious figures had turned sacred sites into profit machines, often in partnership with local governments eager for tourism revenue. By moving decisively, Beijing aims to restore public trust while demonstrating that no institution, even one as globally famous as Shaolin, is above party discipline.

Local compliance and political motives

Across the country, local authorities have rushed to show their loyalty. In western Sichuan, officials convened study groups for Buddhist, Islamic, and Catholic associations to explain the new rules. Religious venues were ordered to conduct “self-examinations,” while government departments promised to “eliminate potential risks.” The political motive is clear: just as President Xi Jinping has pursued an anti-corruption purge among Communist Party cadres, the state wants to prevent clergy from amassing wealth or influence that could spark public unrest. By regulating online spaces, Beijing also ensures that religious teaching remains under its direct control, minimizing the risk of alternative networks of authority.

Tension between commerce and faith

For many monks and clergy, the restrictions will have immediate consequences. Sites like Mount Qingcheng in Sichuan, a sacred Taoist mountain, had already experimented with livestreaming and selling prayer beads and accessories through Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Some items sold for more than $1,400, attracting young consumers but also criticism. On social media, users joked that monks had become some of the wealthiest tourists, staying in luxury hotels and spending lavishly. The new code will curtail such ventures, though most observers expect workarounds to emerge. Analysts note that past campaigns have lasted only months before many banned practices quietly resurfaced.

A message of control

Ultimately, the crackdown reflects Beijing’s determination to keep religion firmly subordinate to the state. Ian Johnson, author of The Souls of China, observed that the real aim is not to eliminate online preaching altogether but to send a signal that the party is the ultimate authority. Religion may flourish, temples may profit, and millions may continue to worship, but only on terms acceptable to the Communist leadership. As with other aspects of Chinese society, spiritual life is tolerated so long as it serves stability, economic development, and party control.

helinues:
In this century, anyone still believing in any of the fairy tale religion story is only alive but not living

DatNiggaDaz:
If you don't believe in the fairy tale religion, how was it possible for you to not only defend but support the Muslim Muslim ticket of Tinubu.

During the election campaign, you claimed the Muslim Muslim ticket is the best for Nigeria. If you don't believe in Religion, why the deception with the MU-MU ticket ?

helinues:
In this century, anyone still believing in any of the fairy tale religion story is only alive but not living

jmoore:
They should believe that human beings came from apes?

Clap for yourself.

helinues:
What wonders have the states using Christian christian ticket performed. Shettima and Tinubu are not religious fanatics hence suggesting them. It's people like you who wanted to turn the combo to religion narration

helinues:
I have expressed myself without mentioning you, why are you triggered by my opinion?

jmoore:
Check the rules of nairaland again.

And tell me where it is forbidden to quote helinues.

Babablu Bulabu.

DatNiggaDaz:


No one is talking about fanaticism here. When the hypocrisy in you is exposed, you start more confusion & deviation for yourself.

You said that religion is a fairy tale. That Was your first comment on the thread.

My question to you is if religion to you is a very Story fairy tale, why did you play the religious card and stood on it ? You understand the MU-MU ticket ?

DatNiggaDaz:


No one is talking about fanaticism here. When the hypocrisy in you is exposed, you start more confusion & deviation for yourself.

You said that religion is a fairy tale. That Was your first comment on the thread.

My question to you is if religion to you is a very Story fairy tale, why did you play the religious card and stood on it ? You understand the MU-MU ticket ?

helinues:
Don't be quarter clever. Why are you triggered by my opinion?

jmoore:
Why are you scared by my reply?

Onyiiobi7735:
Why waste your time on it?
It is always contradicting itself and displaying Blatant stupidity.

helinues:
Why are you afraid of answering a simple question?

Which part of my comments got you triggered hence sounding like this?

helinues:
The ice cream jabbing actually made me to have suggested Shettima without considering his religion.

President Tinubu is a Muslim, when Shettima was suggested, it was your likes and Peter Obi who wanted to religious card by shouting Muslim Muslim ticket while the suggestions was far above religion.

Infact, I created a thread where I said christians would benefit more under the Muslim Muslim ticket as both president Tinubu and Shettima are not religious fanatics

https://www.nairaland.com/7229130/muslim-muslim-ticket-favour-christian

jmoore:
Did human beings come from Apes?

Abi, you need translation to your dialect?

DatNiggaDaz:


It is thesame thing I am asking you. How is it then possible for someone who don't believe in religion open a thread about religion to talk about the benefits of religion under a MU-MU ticket?

You don't believe in religion. Good. The best you could have done is stay away from politics of religion like during the MU-MU ticket campaigns. You not only only defended the politics of religion under the MU-MU ticket but still support it till today. Fir someone who does not believe in religion.

That is hypocrisy & deception at it's finest

helinues:
You are not in any position to tell me what to do. That's where self respect comes in

If I did not question you people that wanted abi used it for the election, then you have no right to question those who defended it

DatNiggaDaz:


Dont be aggressive

So, you agree now that religion is no fairy tale Story ?

helinues:
It is because I stopped believing it years back.

Today is Sunday, you will see reasonable of the politicians going to church and mosque just for eyes service.

If they have been listening to the preaching which they have been hearing die decades, they should have turned Nigeria around

shox:
tell ur oga to listen to the word of gods.
Make e no tax is to oblivion

helinues:
Are you just alive or living? That's the question that's making you to be sounding bla bla Blu.

If you are not religious blinded, my comments shouldn't have affected you in any way

jmoore:
They should believe that human beings came from apes?

Clap for yourself.

dederocs:
Humans came from Evolution not apes, ape like humanoid... religion is different from spirituality, religion is man made. Look around you evolution abounds, from egg to chicken, from larvae to butterfly... evolution is everywhere around us... study history, religion is man made it leads to division, animosity and inspires jihadists terrorists.