Shaolin Temple's 'commercialism' is pragmatic

Of course, the practice of religious institutions running a business is not without problems and risks. A big problem is that temples are registered as non-profit organizations in China, so they don't need to pay tax on their revenue. Although, according to the law, the money they make and any donations they receive must be used for public benefit, not for personal gain.

Another potential risk is belief being kidnapped by commercial interests. There have been instances of religious institutions forcing believers to donate or consume at certain shops.

The relevant government agencies must strictly supervise and audit the commercial activities of religious institutions. And this applies not only to Buddhist temples, but also to other religious institutions such as Christian churches and Taoist temples.

Having lived in a planned economy for a long time, many Chinese residents might not know that it is quite common for religious institutions in developed countries to participate in commerce. For example in Japan, being a monk is considered a job; in many countries temples register as corporate organizations that enjoy favorable tax rates.

Thus there is yet no need to worry about "commercialization" of religious institutions, what is needed is strict law enforcement to prevent illegal activities.

Li Xiangping is researcher at and director of Center on Religion and Society, East China Normal University. The article is an excerpt of his interview with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang.