Propaganda against “xie jiao and illegal religion” is now systematically being extended to children in China. The “danger of the xie jiao”—an expression whose translation as “cults,” as readers of Bitter Winter know, is questionable, since in China’s historical tradition it indicates a broad category of groups perceived as hostile to, or unsupportive of, the government—is used as a pretext to explain the difference between “good” and “bad” religion, and warn against “illegal” religious activities. Indeed the expression “xie jiao and illegal religion” is becoming increasingly common.
Children are not even left alone during the summer holidays. In Zhuanghang Town, which is part of the Fengxian suburban district in Southern Shanghai, during the holidays schoolchildren were taught how to fight what was called the “invisible danger” of “xie jiao and illegal religion.”
Since Shanghai is still experiencing COVID-19 restrictions, the project combined online and offline learning. Two children were summoned to school to watch propaganda videos, while their classmates followed the videos from home.
They were taught how to distinguish “genuine” from “false” religion, and introduced to the concept of xie jiao. They also watched horrific stories of minors whose lives were destroyed by the xie jiao.
“Following the CCP” was offered as the antidote against toxic or destructive religion, and the children were led to renew their commitment to upheld the Party, the Central Committee, and Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.Surely, there are better way for children to enjoy the summer holidays, but this is how education works in China under Xi Jinping.
