23 August 2007

This Would Be Funny if it Weren't So... Sad.

Before you think about reincarnating into your next life after you die, you'd BETTER ask permission from the Chinese government.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20227400/site/newsweek/

I'm not sure what their law says about, say, an American who reincarnates as a new Chinese citizen. Would he have to pay taxes on his old life before he could be a full citizen? Or worse, what if a worm became a person in the next life? How is the worm going to petition the government for permission to be human after he dies on the sidewalk in the next rainstorm? Oh, the poor guy is going to be held in Buddhist worm limbo or something because he doesn't have permission to reincarnate yet.

OK I'm joking around but I think it's *interesting* that the Chinese government wants that much control over religion. Maybe Buddhists have some weird beliefs but it does sound like a form of persecution to me...

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