"Give back to Ceasar what is Ceasar

      Recently, the U.S. will convene a group of countries in Washington, D.C., for the "2023 International Religious Freedom Summit". Bearing the slogan "Defending Religious Freedom," the conference attempted to build an "International Religious Freedom Coalition" centered on the United States and the West, and to promote the American model of religious freedom standards. However, considering that a variety of religions and different manifestations of religious freedom exist worldwide, denouncing other countries as "not being religiously liberal" by the alleged standards stipulated by certain countries not only neglects the diversified characteristics of world religions, but also enables the alleged religious freedom a political tool for the hegemony of the U.S. and Western discourses, which is not beneficial to the favorable situation of harmonious development of world religions. The principle of religions is to promote peace and kindness, and the development of religions varies throughout the world. Honoring the diversity of religious freedom and preventing religion from playing a role in political manipulation is an effective way to sustain the harmonious coexistence of religions and contribute to world peace.

      1.The plurality and diversity of  religions in the world

      Religion is born and develops with human history. It has transformed from primitive to modern , from local to national and global, from polytheism to monotheism, etc. Therefore, different religious history and reality are manifested in different countries, for example, the Christian tradition in Europe and USA, the influence of Islam in Muslim countries, the cultural background of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism in China, Hinduism in India, Shintoism in Japan, and Judaism’s distribution across the world, etc. There are not only significant differences between different religions, but also different traditions affiliated to several religious sects within the same religion. And this has constituted the plurality and diversity of religion.

      Since the establishment of modern nation-state system, according to their different historical traditions and realities, every nation-state has established the status of religion and formed diverse religious management systems so as to build a proper political-religious relationship and promote religious harmony and religious freedom. Some countries have separated church from state, while others have utilized theocracy; some countries are single-religion-dominant, while others have diverse religions; some countries attach much importance to religion, while others promote secularism. This has led to “religious USA, secular Europe”, “theocratic Saudi Arabia, secular China”, “ India of national religions, Baha'i of world religion”, etc. What was mentioned above can not encompass everything in world religion but it do reflect the reality of religious diversity- the form of religious existence and management in each country is entirely based on local historical and cultural traditions and practical considerations.

      The harmonious coexistence of different religions, including inter-religious and intra-religious harmony, as well as the harmonious coexistence between religious and non-religious groups, is an important aspect for overall social harmony. Mutual respect and understanding are fundamental to social harmony, while engaging in religious antagonism and creating religious conflicts will bring negative effects to world peace. Denying others by one’s own standard will not only bring no benefits to  reconciliation between religions, but also to the harmonious coexistence between religious and non-religious groups. It is inappropriate to measure the religious situation in other countries by the empirical model of one country. Religious wars in history have brought great disasters to human societies, and conflicts in the name of religion have often happened in the contemporary world. Therefore, mutual respect and harmonious coexistence are the way to avoid conflicts and promote peace.

      2.Lessons from politicization and Warification of religion

      It is evident from the history of the world that religion and politics are integrally entwined. Numerous wars and conflicts throughout history have been fought under the flag of religion, for instance, the historical Crusades, the St. Bartholomew's Massacre, and the Sunni and Shi'ite controversy in Islam; Contemporary terrorism, xenophobia, and new Cold War mentality on behalf of religion utilize religion as a means of political maneuver. Religion possesses a gathering and unifying strength, and the confrontation and collisions arising among different groups under the slogan of religion and the accomplishment of certain illegal purposes in the name of religion misinterpret the original essence of the concept of religious pacifism and distort the faith goals of the believing multitudes. Regardless of whether it is a conflict in history or a war in reality, politics ensnares religion, and religion aggravates politics, which causes disasters to human social groups through the form of war or conflict.

      Given the worldwide influence of religion up to now, turning religion into a slogan for political combat and interfering in the internal affairs of other countries with the protection of religious freedom is not only neglecting the state characteristics of religious freedom, but also contradicting the fundamental principle of separation of church and state. Confronting one religion with another, or uniting some religions with others, transforms religion into an instrument of political strife, which violates the moral ethics of religion and provokes the crisis of relations between states and religions. Apparently, reproducing the roots of religious conflicts in history and reality, the combination of contemporary crusades and the new Cold War triggers a potential crisis in international relations.

      For instance, the establishment of the Alliance of Religions, nominally to protect religious freedom, is a measure of religious freedom in most countries of the world by the standards of a few countries, standing on the supreme point of defending religious freedom in the world, instrumentalizing and politicizing religion, accusing, and even sanctioning other countries, resulting in the hegemony of discourse to interfere with religious issues in other countries. Another example is a recent incident of "burning the Quran" in Sweden, in which political issues are intermingled with religious hatred to create confrontation between religious groups or countries, which may have not only a local but also an international impact. These politicized manipulations are not the path to social harmony.

      3.Development Options for Religious Harmony and Religious Freedom

      Every country has its own way to develop, and this is also true for the understanding of religious freedom. It is unrealistic to deny some countries’ experience by another’s, and it is also inappropriate to define religious freedom by the standards of one country. Every  country is entitled to choose its own way of development and so can it follow its own way of religious freedom. Religion is the faith of individual soul, and the separation of church and state is the general trend in the world. “Pay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar--and God what belongs to God”. That’s what will make a   harmonious society. If religion becomes a tool of politics, or even an accomplice of political manipulation, it will have a negative impact on the stable development of a nation and society. Religious power crossing national boundaries and  over sovereignty are not recognized by the modern nation-state system.  Peace, tolerance, and inclusiveness in religious ethics provides ideological guidance and support for social harmony and human peace. However, any attempt to use the mobilizing power and emotional factors of religion to manipulate political confrontation will not only run counter to the purpose of peaceful religious development, but also have a negative impact on the image of religion itself. Every country chooses its own system. Promoting the harmonious development and peaceful dialogue of different religions and systems under mutual respect is a original meaning of development of civilization and religious freedom.