In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation." But beyond the irony lies China's true motive: to cut off the influence of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual and political leader...
While we know that the Chinese government is quite weird on religious issues, I wonder how often we try to legislate religion in our own lives. Can religion really be subject to the rules of humans? Or maybe we're talking apples and oranges? I would prefer to bypass religion and simply follow Christ!
