Quote:
Originally Posted by RoughAshlar
They have shut down anything that encourages freedom of assembly and freedom of speach as a threat to the state. Religon is also forbiden so no one would meet the criteria for becoming masons.
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China does not really outlaw all religion. For example the Roman Catholic Church is present in China, although the state does have a major influence in the church (e.g. the communist party has preserved the right to appoint priests). In Macau and Hong Kong, the Catholic church is allowed much more freedom.
Secondly, as I understand it, you do not have to be a member of some organized religion to be a mason. There would be in principle little objection to a non-organized, religious man to be a mason, as long as he professes his believe in some Supreme being, be it God or some other believe. As many Chinese are Bhuddists or Taoists, they would qualify on those grounds, wouldn't they?