A Study on Improving the Legalization Level of Internet Religious Affairs Management

National security is the foundation of national rejuvenation, and social stability is the prerequisite for national strength and prosperity.[1]1 This sentence is a standard formulation in Chinese political discourse, often used to emphasize the foundational role of national security and social stability in the context of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In recent years, websites, applications, online forums, public accounts, instant messaging tools, and live-streaming platforms with religious content have frequently emerged. This has provided favorable conditions for publicizing the Party’s religious policies and for religious groups and believers to organize and participate in online religious activities. At the same time, some organizations and individuals use these online media under the guise of religion to engage in illegal fundraising and other activities, harming the physical and mental health and property safety of the people; some publish statements online that violate the Party’s religious policies, incite religious fanaticism, and affect social harmony and stability; others promote extremist religious ideas online, undermining China’s ethnic unity and political stability. It is evident that internet religious affairs are related to issues of national security and social stability, and whether internet religious affairs are handled well concerns the strength of the country and the rejuvenation of the nation. For this reason, General Secretary Xi Jinping, at the 2021 National Conference on Religious Work, clearly pointed out that “management of internet religious affairs must be strengthened.”[2]2 The 2021 National Conference on Religious Work was a high-level meeting convened by the CPC Central Committee, where Xi Jinping

国家安全是民族复兴的根基，社会稳定是国家强盛的前提[1]。近年来，涉宗教内容的互联网站、应用程序、网络论坛、公众账号、即时通信工具、网络直播等频繁涌现。这为宣传党的宗教政策，为宗教团体、信教群众组织、参与互联网宗教行为活动提供了有力条件。与此同时，有的组织和个人利用这些网络媒介，打着宗教的旗号，从事非法募捐等活动，损害了群众的身心健康和财产安全；有的在网上发表违背党的宗教政策的言论，煽动宗教狂热，影响了社会和谐稳定；有的在网上宣扬宗教极端思想，破坏了我国民族团结和政治安定。可见，互联网宗教事务关涉国家安全与社会稳定问题，互联网宗教事务处理的好不好，关系到国家的强盛与民族的复兴。为此，习近平总书记在2021年全国宗教工作会议上更明确指出，“要加强互联网宗教事务管理”[2]。

I. Correct Understanding: The Importance of Internet Religious Affairs Management

一、正确认识：互联网宗教事务管理的重要性

(1) What Is Internet Religious Affairs Management?

（一）什么是互联网宗教事务管理？

Currently, academia has extensively discussed the concepts and distinctions between “internet religion” and “online religion,” “internet religion” and “internet religious information,” and “internet religious affairs” and “internet religious management.” Combining existing academic discussions and referring to specific policy document formulations, this article holds that internet religious affairs management refers to the administrative management carried out by the government, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws, regulations, and rules, over individuals or organizations that engage in or participate in internet-related religious activities. The subject of internet religious affairs management is the relevant government departments, and the object is individuals or organizations that engage in or participate in internet-related religious activities. The process of internet religious affairs management involves incorporating internet religious affairs into the scope of corresponding laws, regulations, and policies, so as to gradually standardize internet religious activities. On one hand, this is to protect the legitimate rights and interests of religious circles, the broad masses of believers, and non-believers, and to fully leverage the positive role of religious groups in internet religion; on the other hand, it is to resolutely prevent any organization or individual from using internet religion for illegal activities, resolutely curb any organization or individual from using internet religion for extremist activities, resolutely resist any organization or individual from using internet religion for infiltration activities, and resolutely crack down on any organization or individual from using internet religion for criminal activities. Thus, internet religious affairs management falls within the scope of religious work, and its goal is to safeguard the overall interests of the nation and the ethnic groups.

当前，学界对于“互联网宗教”与“网络宗教”、“互联网宗教”与“互联网宗教信息”、“互联网宗教事务”与“互联网宗教管理”的概念及概念辨析均有诸多探讨。结合学界已有的相关论述并参考具体的政策文件表述，本文认为互联网宗教事务管理，是指政府根据宪法和有关法律、法规和规章，对从事、参与互联网宗教方面行为活动的个体或组织进行的行政管理。互联网宗教事务管理的主体是相关政府部门，客体是从事、参与互联网宗教方面行为活动的个体或组织。互联网宗教事务管理的过程是通过将互联网宗教事务纳入相应的法律、法规、政策范围，以逐步实现互联网宗教行为活动规范化。这一方面是为了保护宗教界、广大信教群众以及不信教群众的合法权益，充分发挥宗教团体在互联网宗教方面的积极作用；另一方面是为了坚决制止任何组织和个人利用互联网宗教进行非法活动，坚决遏制任何组织和个人利用互联网宗教进行极端活动，坚决抵御任何组织和个人利用互联网宗教进行渗透活动，坚决打击任何组织和个人利用互联网宗教进行犯罪活动。由此可见，互联网宗教事务管理隶属于宗教工作范畴，其目标指向是维护国家和民族的整体利益。

(2) The Connection Between Internet Religious Affairs Management and National Security and Stability

（二）互联网宗教事务管理与国家安全稳定的关联

Internet religious affairs management has characteristics of being political, cultural, social, and technical, and these multiple characteristics mean it involves several areas of national security.

互联网宗教事务管理具有政治性、文化性、社会性、技术性等特点，其多重特点使它关涉多个国家安全领域。

First, internet religious affairs management concerns the political security of the country. Internet religious groups are specific social groups characterized by religious belief as a bond, the internet as a basic carrier, and engagement in or participation in internet religious activities as a main feature. Internet religious groups differ significantly from traditional religious groups in terms of member composition, member relationships, and member interactions, and they cannot be directly equated. For example, members of traditional religious groups do not necessarily all participate in or engage in internet religious activities; the rights and obligations among members of internet religious groups are not clearly defined, and interactions among members often take a relatively casual form. Such a relatively dispersed and low-formalization group composition inevitably increases the difficulty of managing internet religious affairs. Once certain internet religious groups, based on religious viewpoints, express political stances and put forward political demands, they become a political force and a key focus for internet religious affairs management. General Secretary Xi Jinping has clearly pointed out that “China’s Constitution and laws guarantee citizens’ right to religious belief, but we must be vigilant against the danger of religious infiltration and against religious demands with political intentions.”[3]3 The State Administration for Religious Affairs (国家宗教事务局) is a government body under the State Council of the People's Republic of China responsible for overseeing religious affairs and implementing state religious policy. This directly concerns the issue of national political security.

首先，互联网宗教事务管理关系着国家的政治安全。互联网宗教群体是以宗教信仰为纽带，以互联网为基础载体，以从事、参与互联网宗教行为活动为主要特征的特定的社会群体。互联网宗教群体与传统宗教群体在成员构成、成员关系、成员互动上均有较大差异，不能直接划等号。比如，传统宗教群体成员不一定都会参与、从事互联网宗教行为活动；互联网宗教群体成员之间的权力、义务关系没有明确的规定，成员间的互动往往采取比较随意的方式。这样较为分散的、正式化程度较低的群体构成情况，势必增加了互联网宗教事务管理的难度。一旦某些互联网宗教群体依据宗教观点，表达政治立场，提出政治诉求时，它就成为一种政治势力，成为互联网宗教事务管理需要关注的重点对象。习近平总书记曾明确指出，“我国宪法法律保障公民信仰宗教的权利，但必须警惕宗教渗透的危险，警惕带有政治意图的宗教诉求。”[3]因为这直接关系到国家的政治安全问题。

Second, internet religious affairs management concerns the ideological security of the country. Religion itself is an ideology. Broadly speaking, internet religion is the dissemination and flow of religion as an ideology on the internet. Internet religious affairs management involves doing a good job of related ideological work, upholding the guiding position of Marxism in the ideological domain, and effectively safeguarding national ideological security. On one hand, it is necessary to guide according to circumstances, be adept at leveraging trends, and use internet platforms to actively publicize the Party’s basic principles and policies on religious work and the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics on religion, “letting the correct voice take the lead.”[4]4 The "Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of the Rule of Law in Religious Work" (《关于加强宗教工作法治建设的意见》) is a policy document issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs in 2015, aimed at enhancing legal frameworks for religious management. On the other hand, it is necessary to foster strengths and avoid weaknesses, preventing a few Western countries from using internet religion to co-opt Western “universal values” and implement strategies of Westernization and division against China; preventing hostile forces from using internet religion for infiltration activities, co-opting ideas of ethnic separatism, terrorism, and extremism, advocating religious fanaticism, and impacting or even distorting the correct cognition and value judgments formed by Chinese netizens under the influence of mainstream ideology; and preventing those with ulterior motives from using religious online public opinion to criticize or even smear China, inciting Chinese believers to attack the Party’s leadership and the country’s systems and policies.

其次，互联网宗教事务管理关系着国家的意识形态安全。宗教本身就是一种意识形态。从广义上来讲，互联网宗教就是宗教这种意识形态在互联网上的传播与流动。互联网宗教事务管理就是要做好相关的意识形态工作，坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，切实维护国家意识形态安全。一方面要因势利导，善于借势，利用互联网平台，积极宣传党的宗教工作基本方针、政策以及中国特色社会主义宗教理论，“让正确的声音先入为主”[4]。另一方面要趋利避害，避免少数西方国家利用互联网宗教，裹挟西方“普世价值”，对我国实施西化、分化战略；避免敌对势力利用互联网宗教进行渗透活动，裹挟民族分裂、恐怖主义、极端主义思想，鼓吹宗教狂热，冲击甚至扭曲中国网民在主流意识形态影响下所形成的正确认知和价值判断；避免别有用心者利用宗教类网络舆情责难、甚至抹黑中国，煽动我国信教群众攻击党的领导和国家的制度、政策。

Third, internet religious affairs management concerns the social security of the country. Religion is not only an ideology but also a social entity. Religious work is a form of social management. Because internet religion moves religious organizations, religious rituals, and religious venues online, religious activities can be conducted both online and offline. Certain individuals or organizations, by means of internet religion, break the boundary between the “virtual” and the “real,” organically linking online and offline religious activities. This means that internet religious affairs management is an important component of social governance; in essence, it is mass work that safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of believers and non-believers, creates harmonious and stable religious relations and united and harmonious ethnic relations for the people, and fosters a harmonious, safe, and stable social environment. This work requires both fully leveraging the positive role of religious circles, encouraging them to be adept at using internet religion to transmit normal religious information, and promptly paying attention to religious online public opinion, analyzing and judging religious online hotspots and sensitive issues, properly handling nascent problems such as those that disrupt people’s work and life order under the banner of internet religion or that borrow or tamper with religious terminology in an attempt to engage in superstitious activities, severely cracking down on activities that undermine social order and endanger people’s lives and property under the guise of online “scripture preaching” or online “sermons” by lawbreakers, effectively preventing hostile forces from using internet religion to carry out infiltration, separatist, and subversive activities against China, proactively resolving and controlling corresponding social risks, and effectively safeguarding social security.

再次，互联网宗教事务管理关系着国家的社会安全。宗教不仅是一种思想意识，也是一种社会实体。宗教工作就是一项社会管理工作。由于互联网宗教将宗教组织、宗教仪轨、宗教场所搬至线上，使宗教行为活动在线上、线下均可进行。某些个体或组织更借助互联网宗教，打破“虚”与“实”的界限，将线上、线下的宗教行为活动有机地关联起来。这就意味着互联网宗教事务管理是社会治理的重要组成部分，本质上它是一项维护信教群众和不信教群众的合法权益，为人民群众创造和顺平稳的宗教关系、和睦团结的民族关系，打造和谐安全稳定的社会环境的群众工作。这项工作既要充分发挥宗教界的积极作用，鼓励宗教界善于利用互联网宗教，传递正常的宗教信息；也要及时关注宗教类网络社会舆情，分析研判宗教类网络热点、敏感问题，妥善处理打着互联网宗教的旗号干扰人们的工作生活秩序、借用或篡改宗教术语企图进行迷信活动等苗头性问题，严厉打击不法分子在网络“传经”、网络“布道”的外衣掩护下进行的破坏社会治安、危害人民群众生命财产安全的活动，有效防范敌对势力借用互联网宗教对我国进行的渗透、分裂、颠覆活动，主动化解管控相应的社会风险，切实维护社会安全。

In summary, internet religious affairs management is a task that requires a multi-dimensional perspective, a three-dimensional viewpoint, and systematic thinking. In terms of specific work scope, it involves multiple areas of national security, including political security, ideological security, and social security. Therefore, whether from an overall goal perspective or from a differentiated work perspective, internet religious affairs management is an important task for maintaining national security and stability.

总的来说，互联网宗教事务管理是一项需要多维视野、立体视角、系统思维的工作。在具体工作范畴上，它关涉政治安全、意识形态安全、社会安全等多个国家安全领域。因而，无论从总体目标上看，还是分化工作上来看，互联网宗教事务管理都是维护国家安全稳定的一项重要工作。

II. Upgrading the Capacity for Internet Religious Affairs Management: Formation of a Policy Framework and Progress in Rule of Law

二、互联网宗教事务管理能力攀升：政策框架形成与法治跟进

In the mid-1990s, China began to enter the internet era. During this period, internet religion began to emerge in China. In 1998, the website “Jiezhuang Buddhist Education Network” (the first website run by a temple in China), hosted by Suzhou Xiyuan Temple, came into public view, marking the beginning of internet religion in China, and the issue of internet religious management naturally arose accordingly. Over the past twenty-plus years, internet religious affairs have gone through a process from clarifying problems to basically forming a policy framework, and from starting from scratch to progressively advancing the construction of the rule of law.

20世纪90年代中期，中国开始进入互联网时代。这一时期开始，互联网宗教在中国初具端倪。1998年，苏州西园寺主办的网站“戒幢佛学教育网”（国内首家由寺院主办的网站）映入世人眼帘，拉开了中国互联网宗教的序幕，互联网宗教管理问题自然相应而生。二十多年来，互联网宗教事务经历了从明确问题到基本形成政策框架，从零点起步到步步跟进法治建设的历程。

(I) Four-Party Coordination: The Basic Formation of a Policy Framework for Internet Religious Affairs Management

（一）四方联动，互联网宗教事务管理政策框架基本形成

In view of the importance of internet religious issues, China has gradually constructed a policy framework for internet religious affairs management that is led by the Party, managed by the government, coordinated by society, and self-disciplined by religious groups.

鉴于互联网宗教问题的重要性，我国逐步构建起了由党领导、政府管理、社会协同、宗教自律的互联网宗教事务管理政策框架。

1. Advocating Social Coordination, Clarifying Issues, and Building Consensus

1.倡导社会协同，明确问题，凝聚共识

At the beginning of the new century, Jiang Zemin was the first to raise the issue of internet religion from the perspective of safeguarding national political security and preventing religious infiltration. He pointed out that the internet is one of the means and methods used by certain organizations to carry out religious infiltration into China. On how to respond and prevent this, he provided a solution: strengthen investigation and research, paying special attention to “the impact that new situations such as the rapid development of China’s internet have on our country’s religious work,” and on the basis of investigation summaries and analysis of investigation results, “formulate response measures as early as possible” and “continuously improve relevant policies and regulations” [5]5 The "Regulations on Religious Affairs" (《宗教事务条例》) is a set of administrative regulations first issued in 2004 and revised in 2017, governing religious activities and organizations in China., thereby seizing the initiative in internet religious affairs management. In terms of specific policies, in 2002, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council issued the “Decision on Strengthening Religious Work,” which required that “staff of publishing, literary and artistic, broadcasting, film, television, internet units and their management departments should study the Party’s religious policies and master basic knowledge of religion.” The aim was to mobilize all sectors of society, gather the strength of the vast number of netizens, enhance their political discernment and security awareness, and build social consensus for internet religious affairs management.

新世纪之初，江泽民率先从维护国家政治安全，防范宗教渗透的角度出发，提到了互联网宗教问题。他指出，互联网是某些组织对我国进行宗教渗透的手段和方式之一。在如何应对、防范的问题上，他给出了解决方案，就是加强调查研究，特别要注意“我国互联网迅速发展等新情况给我国宗教工作带来的影响”，并在调查总结、分析调查结果的基础上“及早制定应对措施”“不断完善有关政策和法规”[5]，争取互联网宗教事务管理的主动权。在具体的政策方面，2002年，中共中央、国务院发布了《关于加强宗教工作的决定》，其中要求“出版、文艺、广播、影视、互联网等单位及其管理部门的工作人员要学习党的宗教政策，掌握宗教方面的基本知识。”目的就是要调动社会各界，汇集广大网民的力量，提升他们的政治鉴别力和安全敏锐性，为互联网宗教事务管理凝聚社会共识。

2. Emphasizing Government Management, Multi-Department Coordination, and Extensive Experience Absorption

2.强调政府管理，多部门统筹协作，广泛吸纳经验

Internet religious affairs management falls not only within the scope of religious work but also spans the fields of internet, security, and information work. Therefore, this work requires the coordination of multiple departments to exert joint efforts; on the basis of investigation and research, it should extensively absorb domestic and international experience, study and formulate specific policies, and advance in an orderly manner. In July 2015, the State Administration for Religious Affairs organized and held a symposium on internet religious affairs management, where heads of religious work departments from seven provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) exchanged work experiences. In November of the same year, the State Administration for Religious Affairs, together with multiple departments, formed a joint research group that went to Guangdong to conduct research on strengthening internet religious affairs management, further exploring effective experiences and practices. Subsequently, the State Administration for Religious Affairs, together with the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of State Security, issued the “Opinions on Strengthening the Management of Internet Religious Affairs,” providing a practical basis for the conduct of internet religious affairs management. In addition, given the “borderless” and “boundaryless” nature of the internet, China actively draws on the management experience of foreign countries in the internet field to optimize the formulation of relevant policies. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stated at international conferences his hope for establishing an international internet governance system [6]6 The "Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services" (《互联网宗教信息服务管理办法》) is a departmental regulation jointly issued by multiple ministries in 2021, specifically regulating the provision of religious information online., promoting mutual exchange and mutual learning, and providing a favorable international environment for internet religious affairs management.

互联网宗教事务管理不仅隶属于宗教工作范畴，还横跨互联网、安全、信息工作领域。因而，这项工作需要统筹多个部门，协同发力；在调查研究的基础上、广泛吸收国内外经验，研究制定具体政策，有序推进。2015年7月，国家宗教事务局就组织召开了网络宗教事务管理工作座谈会，来自7个省（区、市）宗教工作部门的负责人进行了工作交流。同年11月，国家宗教事务局会同多个部门组成联合调研组，赴广东就加强网络宗教事务管理工作开展调研，进一步探索行之有效的经验和做法。而后，国家宗教事务局会同国家互联网信息办公室、工业和信息化部、公安部和国家安全部五部门印发了《关于加强网络宗教事务管理的意见》，为互联网宗教事务管理的进行提供切实可行的依据。此外，鉴于互联网的“无国界”“无边界”特质，中国积极汲取外国在互联网领域的管理经验，进而优化相关政策的拟定。习近平总书记曾多次在国际会议上表示，希望能够建立起国际互联网治理体系[6]，互通互鉴，为互联网宗教事务管理提供良好的国际环境。

3. Strengthening Party Leadership, Disseminating the Party’s Voice, and Seizing Strategic Initiative

3.强化党的领导，传播党的声音，占据战略主动

In 2016, at the National Conference on Religious Work, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly put forward the concept of “internet religion” and emphasized, “Attach great importance to internet religious issues, vigorously promote the Party’s religious theories and policies on the internet, and disseminate positive voices.” [7]7 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC, held in October 2016, focused on comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and adopted the “Norms for Political Life Within the Party Under the New Situation” and the “Regulations on Intra-Party Supervision of the Communist Party of China.” This clarified the following two points: First, internet religious affairs management is a task carried out under the leadership of the Party, relying on the Party’s religious theories and policies. Second, it is necessary to be adept at exploring and making good use of internet resources to provide a platform for relevant theoretical guidance and a channel for the dissemination of specific policies and regulations. To further strengthen the intensity of Party leadership, in March 2018, the Central Committee of the CPC issued the “Plan for Deepening the Reform of Party and State Institutions,” merging the State Administration for Religious Affairs into the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee. This strengthened the centralized and unified leadership of the Party over religious work and internet religious affairs management. In 2021, at another National Conference on Religious Work, five years after the previous one, General Secretary Xi Jinping focused his attention on management issues, shifting from the emphasis five years earlier on “attaching great importance to this issue” to “strengthening internet religious affairs management.” This shift from “attaching importance to the issue” to “strengthening management” indicates both that internet religious affairs have been effectively incorporated into the track of law-based management of religious affairs and, from the perspective of Party leadership, that the current intensity of internet religious affairs management is still insufficient and needs to be further strengthened to seize strategic initiative.

2016年，习近平总书记在全国宗教工作会议明确提出了“互联网宗教”概念，并强调，“高度重视互联网宗教问题，在互联网上大力宣传党的宗教理论和方针政策，传播正面声音。”[7]这明确了以下两点内容：一是互联网宗教事务管理是在党的领导下，依托于党的宗教理论和方针政策而进行的一项工作。二是要善于探索、善加利用互联网资源，为相关理论引导提供平台，为具体的政策、法规宣传提供口径。为了进一步强化党的领导力度，2018年3月，中共中央印发了《深化党和国家机构改革方案》，将国家宗教事务局并入中央统战部。这加强了党对宗教工作、对互联网宗教事务管理的集中统一领导。2021年，时隔五年后的又一次全国宗教工作会议上，习近平总书记将目光聚焦到了管理问题上，由五年前强调的“高度重视这一问题”，变为了“要加强互联网宗教事务管理”。从“重视问题”到“加强管理”，这既表明互联网宗教事务已经切实纳入到依法管理宗教事务的轨道，同时，也从党的领导层面指出目前互联网宗教事务管理的力度还不够，需要继续强化以争取战略主动。

4. Proposing Self-Management by Religious Circles, Forming Religious Self-Discipline

4.提出宗教界自我管理，形成宗教自律

Religious circles are one of the main targets of internet religious affairs

宗教界是互联网宗教事务管理的主要对象之一。习近平总书记曾指出，要“提高宗教界自我管理水平”。因此，开展好互联网宗教事务管理工作，宗教界更需要“加强自我教育、自我管理、自我约束”[8]，宗教团体要加强自身建设，形成宗教自律。一方面宗教界应明确互联网宗教事务管理是对宗教信仰自由政策的贯彻，而非限制、阻挠、无视信教群众正常的宗教需求和合法权益。宗教界应充分利用门户网站、网络社交平台、移动客户端等，为信教群众提供合法的互联网宗教信息，满足信教群众正常的宗教需求。另一方面，宗教界应了解互联网绝不是“宗教活动飞地”，互联网宗教事务必须纳入依法管理宗教事务的范畴。

(II) From Nothing to Something: The Legal Follow-Up in the Management of Internet Religious Affairs

（二）从无到有，互联网宗教事务管理的法治跟进

The construction of the rule of law is a booster for the management of internet religious affairs. In May 2015, the State Administration for Religious Affairs issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of the Rule of Law in Religious Work," which proposed to improve legislative requirements in the management of religious affairs and to strengthen the construction of the legal system in a targeted manner.

法治建设是互联网宗教事务管理的助推器。2015年5月，国家宗教事务局印发了《关于加强宗教工作法治建设的意见》，提出要完善宗教事务管理方面的立法要求，有针对性地加强法治体系建设。

First, from the perspective of national security, provide foundational legal support for the management of internet religious affairs by domain. From 2015 to 2016, the state successively promulgated the "National Security Law of the People's Republic of China," the "Counter-Terrorism Law of the People's Republic of China," and the "Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China." These laws clarified from different domains that the management of internet religious affairs concerns national security and stipulated specific religious behaviors and religious activities. This not only reflects the synergy between legislative acts but also provides ample confidence for managing internet religious affairs in accordance with the law.

第一，从国家安全角度出发，分领域为互联网宗教事务管理提供基础性法律支撑。2015至2016年，国家陆续颁布了《中华人民共和国国家安全法》《中华人民共和国反恐怖主义法》《中华人民共和国网络安全法》。这些法律从不同领域明确了互联网宗教事务管理事关国家安全，并对具体的宗教行为、宗教活动进行了规定。这既体现出立法之间的协同性，更为依法管理互联网宗教事务提供了充足底气。

Second, improve administrative regulations and departmental rules on religious affairs, so that the management of internet religious affairs can be effectively linked with relevant laws and regulations in the field of national security. In 2017, the State Council published the newly revised "Regulations on Religious Affairs," which added specific provisions on internet religious issues, mainly reflected in the management of internet information services, internet religious information services, and other content. Subsequently, the State Administration for Religious Affairs began drafting departmental rules on internet religious affairs. After three years, on the basis of extensive solicitation of opinions, the State Administration for Religious Affairs, in conjunction with multiple ministries, formally issued the "Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures") in 2021. Article 14 of Chapter III of the "Measures" provides specific provisions on the content of internet religious information from the perspective of national security, achieving a strong echo with relevant laws such as the "National Security Law of the People's Republic of China." This provides targeted legal guarantees for the management of internet religious affairs.

第二，完善宗教事务方面的行政法规和部门规章，使互联网宗教事务管理与国家安全领域内相关的法律、法规得以进行有效衔接。2017年，国务院公布了新修订的《宗教事务条例》，其中增加了关于互联网宗教问题的具体规定，并主要体现于互联网信息服务管理、互联网宗教信息服务等内容。而后，国家宗教事务局着手起草互联网宗教方面的部门规章。历时三年，在广泛征求意见的基础上，国家宗教事务局联合多部委，于2021年，正式出台了《互联网宗教信息服务管理办法》（以下简称《办法》）。《办法》第三章第十四条从国家安全层面出发，对互联网宗教信息内容进行了具体规定，实现了与《中华人民共和国国家安全法》等相关法律的有力呼应。这为互联网宗教事务管理提供了有针对性的法律保障。

Third, improve the construction of the intra-Party regulations system, emphasize that intra-Party work must possess both internet thinking and rule-of-law thinking, achieve coordination between intra-Party regulations and national laws, and further strengthen the Party’s political leadership over the management of internet religious affairs. In 2016, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China [7]7 The Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the CPC, held in October 2016, focused on comprehensively and strictly governing the Party and adopted the “Norms for Political Life Within the Party Under the New Situation” and the “Regulations on Intra-Party Supervision of the Communist Party of China.” adopted the “Norms for Political Life Within the Party Under the New Situation,” which states, “Strengthen the guidance of internet ideology and theory,”[9]9 "Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards" (没有规矩，不成方圆) is a Chinese idiom meaning that rules and regulations are necessary for any undertaking to succeed. and be adept at using the internet to understand social conditions and public opinion, and to listen to the voices of the masses. In 2020, the Central Committee of the CPC issued the revised “Regulations on the Work of the United Front of the Communist Party of China,” which clarifies that to do religious work well, one must “be adept at using laws and regulations to regulate the management of religious affairs,” “use rule-of-law thinking and rule-of-law methods to properly handle contradictions and problems in the religious field, educate and guide religious figures and believers to consciously uphold the authority of the Constitution and laws, and carry out activities within the scope prescribed by laws and regulations.”[10]10 "Whoever enforces the law shall popularize the law" (谁执法谁普法) is a principle in China's legal popularization work, assigning the responsibility for explaining relevant laws to the departments that enforce them. This clarifies the direction and sets requirements for how to carry out the management of internet religious affairs, and also constructs a guarantee mechanism for consolidating the patriotic united front, safeguarding the vital interests of the people, and maintaining national security and stability.

第三，完善党内法规体系建设，强调党内工作要兼具互联网思维和法治思维，实现党内法规与国家法律的协调，并进一步强化了党对互联网宗教事务管理的政治引领。2016年，中国共产党第十八届中央委员会第六次全体会议通过了《关于新形势下党内政治生活的若干准则》，其中指出，“强化互联网思想理论引导”[9]，善于利用互联网去了解社情民意，倾听群众呼声。2020年，中共中央印发了修订后的《中国共产党统一战线工作条例》，明确了做好宗教工作要“善于用法律法规规范宗教事务管理”“运用法治思维和法治方式妥善处理宗教领域的矛盾和问题，教育引导宗教界人士和信教群众自觉维护宪法法律权威，在法律法规规定范围内开展活动。”[10]这为如何开展好互联网宗教事务管理明确了方向、提出了要求，也为巩固了爱国统一战线、维护人民群众的切身利益、维护国家的安全稳定构建了保障机制。

The formation of the policy framework provides guidance and support for the management of internet religious affairs, and the follow-up of rule-of-law construction provides strong legal guarantees for the management of internet religious affairs. The two, operating in a dual-wheel drive model, promote the gradual improvement of the capacity to manage internet religious affairs.

政策框架的形成为互联网宗教事务管理提供了指引和支撑，法治建设的跟进为互联网宗教事务管理提供了有力的法律保障，二者以双轮驱动的模式推动着互联网宗教事务管理能力逐步攀升。

III. Thinking of Danger in Times of Safety: Facing the Real Challenges in the Law-Based Governance of Internet Religious Affairs

三、居安思危：正视互联网宗教事务管理法治化面临的现实挑战

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the policy framework for the management of internet religious affairs has been formed, and rule-of-law construction has been continuously advanced. However, we must recognize that with the rapid development of information technology, internet religion has presented new trends such as the diversification and complexity of activity subjects, the derivation of communication media, the diversification and concealment of communication forms, the precision of information content, and the younger age of the covered audience, which have increased the difficulty of managing internet religious affairs. This requires us, on the basis of the achievements already made, to assess the situation, proactively identify problems, face the real challenges in the law-based governance of internet religious affairs, take the initiative to prevent risks and obstacles, and better safeguard national security and stability.

党的十八大以来，互联网宗教事务管理政策框架已经形成，法治建设不断推进。但是，我们必须认识到，随着信息技术的飞速发展，互联网宗教呈现出活动主体多元化、复杂化，传播媒介的衍生化，传播形式的多样化、隐密化，信息内容精准化，覆盖受众低龄化等新态势，加大了互联网宗教事务管理的难度。这就需要我们在已经取得的成绩基础上，审时度势，主动查摆问题，正视互联网宗教事务管理法治化面临的现实挑战，下好防范风险阻力的先手棋，更好地维护国家的安全稳定。

(I) Limited Legislative Quantity, Incomplete Legal and Regulatory System

（一）立法数量有限，法律法规体系尚不完备

Currently, China has 3 laws, 1 administrative regulation, and 1 departmental rule concerning internet religious affairs. Internet religion is a vast online religious world; looking solely at the corresponding legislative quantity, it is still relatively limited. From the perspective of legislative content, the existing laws and regulations mostly touch upon internet religious issues from one aspect or another, lacking specificity. Although the “Measures” [8]8 The “Measures” refers to the “Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services,” a departmental regulation issued by the National Religious Affairs Administration and other bodies, effective in 2022, which sets rules for online religious content and activities. has targeted significance for the management of internet religious affairs, this rule revolves around “internet religious information services.” “Internet religious information services” is only one area within internet religious affairs and cannot fully cover internet religious affairs. For example, the “Measures” sets boundaries for internet religious information, clarifying the specific content that internet religious information must not contain, but it has not yet touched upon the overall boundary issue of internet religious affairs; it makes specific provisions for the licensing of internet religious information services, but has not yet addressed other internet religious activity issues, such as regulations for the launch of religious mobile games (mobile games like “Jericho,” “The Order: 1886,” “Timothy and Titus,” “Virtual Muslim Life,” etc.) and regulations for the operation of religious commerce. From the perspective of the legislative framework, there are still certain legislative gaps in the area of internet religious affairs. For instance, there is a lack of corresponding legal provisions regarding the internet religious activities of foreigners within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. The “Regulations on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners Within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China” (1994) promulgated by the State Council, and the “Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Regulations on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners Within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China (Revised Draft for Comments)” (2020) drafted by the National Religious Affairs Administration, both lack content in this regard. Furthermore, local regulations on internet religious affairs have not yet fully followed suit, and the construction of a related local regulatory system is out of the question. This raises requirements for how to guarantee the freedom of religious belief for citizens of the People’s Republic of China and safeguard the public interest; and how to prevent hostile elements from exploiting legal loopholes to incite netizens and create ideological confusion.

目前，我国关涉互联网宗教事务的法律有3部，行政法规有1部，部门规章有1部。互联网宗教是一个庞大的网上宗教世界，单从与之相应的立法数量上来看，还是比较有限的。从立法内容来看，已有的法律、法规大都从某一个侧面涉及互联网宗教问题，缺乏针对性。虽然，《办法》对互联网宗教事务管理有针对性意义，但该项规章是围绕“互联网宗教信息服务”展开的。“互联网宗教信息服务”仅是互联网宗教事务中的一个领域，并不能完全涵盖互联网宗教事务。比如，《办法》为互联网宗教信息设定了边界，明确了互联网宗教信息不得包含的具体内容，但是它尚未触及互联网宗教事务的整体边界问题；它就互联网宗教信息服务许可做出了具体规定，但尚未涉及其他的互联网宗教活动问题，诸如宗教手机游戏（《耶利哥》《教团：1886》《提摩太与提多》《虚拟穆斯林生活》等手机游戏）的上线规定、宗教商务的运营规定等。从立法框架来看，在互联网宗教事务方面还存在一定的立法空白。比如，在中华人民共和国境内外国人互联网宗教活动方面，就缺乏相应的法律规定。由国务院颁布的《中华人民共和国境内外国人宗教活动管理规定》（1994），以及由国家宗教事务局起草的《中华人民共和国境内外国人宗教活动管理规定实施细则（修订征求意见稿）》（2020）中，都还没有这方面的内容。此外，互联网宗教事务方面的地方性法规尚未完全跟进，相关地方性法规体系建设还无从谈起。这就对如何保障中华人民共和国公民的宗教信仰自由，维护好社会公共利益；如何避免敌对分子利用法律漏洞，借机蛊惑网民，制造思想混乱提出了要求。

(II) Increased Difficulty in Administrative Law Enforcement, Difficult Progress in the Implementation of Rule-of-Law Governance

（二）行政执法难度加大，法治实施推进维艰

Because administrative law enforcement work in the religious field easily touches upon deep-seated and relatively complex social issues such as politics, ethnicity, and security, the work is quite difficult, leading to phenomena in some grassroots departments where laws are not followed and enforcement is not strict. Internet religion undoubtedly increases the difficulty of administrative law enforcement. For example, the “Measures” clearly stipulates under what circumstances it is not allowed to proselytize online. However, in the field of internet religion, due to the significantly lowered entry threshold for proselytizing subjects, the virtualization of proselytizing behavior, the use of “algorithmic recommendations” to precisely grasp netizens’ needs and cater to their preferences for information dissemination, and the provision of “closed-loop venues” for proselytizing activities through online “groups,” “circles,” and “sites,” these situations pose challenges to regulating online proselytizing activities according to law. From the perspective of law enforcement departments, the difficulty of administrative decision-making has increased. Law enforcement departments need to, based on timely understanding and comprehensive analysis of new dynamics in internet religion, use internet thinking and technical means, implement the principles of having laws to follow, enforcing them strictly, and holding violators accountable, form correct administrative decisions, and improve the effectiveness of administrative law enforcement management. From the perspective of law enforcement personnel, the difficulty of performing duties according to law has increased. Law enforcement personnel not only need to have legal awareness and be familiar with enforcement procedures, but also need to have considerable knowledge of religious work policies and principles, and common knowledge of internet religion. From the perspective of enforcement costs, the cost budget has increased. During the enforcement process, corresponding technical equipment support is needed to obtain information and data related to internet religion; it is also necessary to build a team of technical personnel, increase the training intensity for administrative law enforcement personnel, and strengthen the grassroots work force, in order to lay the corresponding foundation for enforcement work.

由于宗教领域的行政执法工作容易触及政治、民族、安全等深层次的、较为复杂的社会问题，因而工作难度较大，致使基层部门存在一些有法不依、执法不严的现象。互联网宗教无疑增加了行政执法难度。比如，《办法》就明确规定了何种情况不得在互联网上传教。但在互联网宗教领域，由于传教主体准入门槛大幅降低，传教行为虚拟化，“算法推送”使传教内容可以精准拿捏网民的需求、迎合网民的喜好进行信息传播，网络“圈”“群”“站”又为传教活动提供了“闭环场所”。这些情况对依法规范互联网上传教活动形成挑战。从执法部门来讲，行政决策难度提升。执法部门需要在及时了解、综合分析互联网宗教新动态的基础上，运用好互联网思维与技术手段，贯彻有法必依、执法必严、违法必究的原则，形成正确的行政决策，提高行政执法管理效能。从执法人员来讲，依法履行职责的难度提升。执法人员不仅需要具有法律意识、熟悉执法程序，还要具有相当的宗教工作方针政策知识、互联网宗教常识。从执法成本来讲，成本预算增加。执法过程中，需要相应的技术设备支持，以获取与互联网宗教相关的信息数据支撑；还要构建技术人员队伍，加大行政执法人员培训力度，壮大基层工作力量，才能奠定相应的执法工作基础。

(III) The Intensity of Legal Popularization Needs to Be Strengthened, and the Concept of Rule of Law Has Not Been Fully Demonstrated

（三）普法力度有待加强，法治观念没能充分展现

Legal popularization is the foundation of law-abiding and the prerequisite for the rule of law. To enhance the rule-of-law concept of individual citizens and social organizations, it is necessary to increase the popularization of relevant laws and regulations. Currently, in the process of law-based governance of internet religious affairs, there have been situations where the responsibility for legal popularization is vague, the interpretation of laws and regulations is inadequate, and proactive clarification of key and hot issues in legislation is insufficient. On the one hand, this leads to a limited rule-of-law concept among social organizations regarding religious affairs. Taking internet platforms as an example, according to the specific provisions of the “Measures,” internet platforms bear the primary responsibility for matters involving internet religion. However, certain internet platforms in the fields of online sales, lifestyle services, social entertainment, and information news lack the relevant rule-of-law concept and are in a state of “standing aloof,” lacking the consciousness to uphold legal awareness and fulfill legal responsibilities in areas such as information content review, management of key functions, and regulation of account operations. On the other hand, this affects the self-management capacity of the religious community. A very small number of religious figures and a small number of believers have shown occasional misunderstandings of relevant laws and regulations, leading to online statements such as “certain regulations contradict the policy of freedom of religious belief” and “the government is covertly banning internet religion.” Once these online statements are exploited and sensationalized by those with ulterior motives, it is not only detrimental to uniting the religious community and the broad masses of believers, and to consolidating and developing the patriotic united front, but also more detrimental to demonstrating the positive energy of the religious community in supporting the management of internet religious affairs.

普法是守法的基础，是法治的前提。要增强公民个体、社会组织的法治观念，就要加大相关法律、法规的普及力度。当前，在互联网宗教事务管理法治化进程中，出现了普法责任模糊、法律法规阐释不到位，对于立法中的重点、热点问题答疑解惑不够主动的情况。这一方面导致社会组织关于宗教方面的法治观念受限。以互联网平台为例，根据《办法》具体规定，互联网平台承担着涉及互联网宗教的主体责任。然而，某些网络销售类、生活服务类、社交娱乐类、信息资讯类互联网平台却缺乏相关的法治观念，处于“置身事外”的状态，在信息内容的审核、重点功能的管理、账号运行的规范等方面，没有秉持相关法律意识、履行法律责任的自觉。另一方面，影响宗教界自我管理能力。极个别宗教界人士、少部分信教群众出现了对相关法律法规理解偶有错位的现象，出现了“某些法规与宗教信仰自由政策相悖”“政府对互联网宗教变相取缔”的网络言论。一旦这些网络言论被别有用心者利用、渲染，既不利于团结宗教界和广大信教群众，巩固和发展爱国统一战线，更不利于展现宗教界在支持互联网宗教事务管理中的正能量。

IV. Striving to Open Up a New Situation: Improving the Level of Law-Based Governance in the Management of Internet Religious Affairs

四、努力开创新局面：提高互联网宗教事务管理法治化水平

The management of internet religious affairs directly concerns issues of national political security, cultural security, and social security, and is also a crucial link in implementing online united front work and following the online mass line. Facing various practical challenges, doing a good job in managing internet religious affairs must adhere to the path of law-based governance.

互联网宗教事务管理直指国家的政治安全、文化安全、社会安全问题，更是落实网络统战工作，走好网络群众路线的重要一环。面对种种现实挑战，做好互联网宗教事务管理工作必然要坚守法治化路线。

(I) Perfecting the Construction of Laws and Regulations in the Field of Internet Religion, and Ensuring Good Governance of Internet Religious Affairs with Good Laws

（一）完善互联网宗教领域的法律法规建设，以良法保障互联网宗教事务的善治

Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. [9]9 "Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards" (没有规矩，不成方圆) is a Chinese idiom meaning that rules and regulations are necessary for any undertaking to succeed. The purpose of legislation in the field of internet religion is not to deprive or restrict the right of religious believers to participate in internet religious activities, but to guide the healthy and orderly development of internet religion, to guide religious believers to enjoy the right to freedom of religious belief in a standardized and lawful manner, and to prevent internet religion from being used by hostile forces and lawbreakers to endanger national security. Only with a complete legal system can good laws ensure good governance of internet religious affairs. Specifically, can the religious affairs department, on the basis of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, consider formulating specialized administrative regulations such as the Regulations on Internet Religious Affairs? Can the revision of the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Foreigners within the Territory of the People's Republic of China include specific provisions on internet religious activities conducted by foreigners within the territory of the People's Republic of China? Can the cyberspace affairs department, based on the Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China and with reference to the Measures for the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services, add more targeted departmental rules such as the Provisions on the Administration of Information Services for Mobile Internet Religious Applications and the Provisions on the Administration of Algorithm Recommendation for Internet Religious Information Services? Can the judicial department further strengthen the construction of a foreign-related legal and rule system, providing possibilities for realizing international rule-of-law cooperation, and providing support for handling situations where overseas organizations or individuals disseminate internet religious information within the territory of the People's Republic of China? Can local government departments, based on national-level laws and regulations, formulate local internet religious regulations, or revise existing relevant regulations to incorporate specific provisions on internet religion? It is worth mentioning that some local governments have already implemented relevant measures. For example, the Shanghai Religious Affairs Regulations, effective from March 1, 2019; the Henan Religious Affairs Regulations, effective from March 1, 2020; and the Hebei Religious Affairs Regulations, effective from February 1, 2022, were all revised on the basis of the original regulations, and all added specific provisions concerning "engaging in internet religious information services."

没有规矩，不成方圆。互联网宗教领域的立法，目的不是剥夺、限制信教群众参与互联网宗教活动的权限，而是要引导互联网宗教健康有序的发展，引导信教群众规范地、合法地享有宗教信仰自由的权益，并防止互联网宗教被敌对势力、不法分子利用而危害国家安全。有了完备的法律制度建设，才能以良法保障互联网宗教事务的善治。具体来讲，宗教事务部门是否可以在《宗教事务条例》的基础上，考虑制定《互联网宗教事务条例》等专门性的行政法规；是否可以在《中华人民共和国境内外国人宗教活动管理规定实施细则》的修订中增加关于外国人在中华人民共和国境内进行互联网宗教活动的具体规定；网信部门是否可以依据《中华人民共和国网络安全法》，参照《互联网宗教信息服务管理办法》，增加制定《移动互联网宗教应用程序信息服务管理规定》《互联网宗教信息服务算法推荐管理规定》等更具针对性的部门规章；司法部门是否可以进一步加强涉外法律和规则体系建设，为实现国际间的法治合作提供可能，为处理境外组织或个人在中华人民共和国境内进行互联网宗教信息传播的情况提供支持地方政府部门是否可以根据国家层面的法律法规，制定本地区的互联网宗教法规，或者对已有的相关法规进行修订，将互联网宗教方面的具体规定纳入其中。值得一提的是，部分地方政府已经实施了相关举措，比如2019年3月1日起施行的《上海市宗教事务条例》、2020年3月1日起施行的《河南省宗教事务条例》、2022年2月1日起施行的《河北省宗教事务条例》等，都是在原条例的基础上进行了修订，都增加了关于“从事互联网宗教信息服务”方面的具体规定。

(II) Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Rule-of-Law Implementation System, and Strengthening the Rule-of-Law Force in the Management of Internet Religious Affairs

（二）全方位推进法治实施体系建设，强化互联网宗教事务管理的法治力度

The construction of a rule-of-law implementation system is reflected in law enforcement, judicature, and law-abiding. First, laws and regulations in the field of internet religion must be strictly enforced. Facing the difficulty of law enforcement in the field of internet religion, religious affairs departments at all levels can explore and improve through various means such as centralized research, meetings and discussions, and policy document guidance. In 2016, the Shaanxi Provincial Bureau of Religious Affairs issued the Notice on Carrying Out Research on the Management of Online Religious Affairs, specifically conducting statistics and summaries of religion-related websites and online social platforms, using data as a basis to carry out in-depth internet religious affairs management work with focus. In 2021, the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs specifically held a work meeting on administrative law enforcement in the religious field, organizing cadres of ethnic and religious affairs at the municipal, district, and county (city) levels, as well as united front work committee members from key townships (subdistricts), to pool wisdom and seek countermeasures to solve work difficulties. In 2022, the Tianjin Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee issued the Opinions on Further Strengthening Administrative Law Enforcement Work on Ethnic and Religious Affairs, to strengthen the intensity of administrative law enforcement in the religious field. Through these methods, law enforcement departments can continuously explore the coordination of law enforcement functions, the integration of law enforcement resources, and the coordination of law enforcement authority. In addition, religious affairs departments can form a horizontal law enforcement linkage mechanism with cyberspace affairs, telecommunications, public security, national security, market regulation, culture and tourism, and other departments, and a vertical law enforcement linkage mechanism can be formed between religious affairs departments at all levels, bringing internet religion into the orbit of the rule of law in all aspects.

法治实施体系建设体现于执法、司法、守法等方面。首先，要严格执行互联网宗教领域的法律法规。面对互联网宗教领域执法难的问题，各级宗教事务部门可以通过集中调研、会议座谈、政策文件指引等多种途径尝试探索和改进。2016年，陕西省宗教局发布了《关于开展网络宗教事务管理工作调研的通知》，专门进行涉宗教网站、网络社交平台统计、汇总，以数据为依据，有重点地深入开展互联网宗教事务管理工作。2021年，杭州市民族宗教事务局专门召开宗教领域行政执法工作会议，组织市和区、县（市）两级民宗干部以及重点乡镇（街道）统战委员一道，集思广益，寻求破解工作难题的对策。2022年，天津市民族和宗教事务委员会发布《关于进一步加强民族宗教事务行政执法工作的意见》，以强化宗教领域行政执法工作力度。通过这些方式，执法部门可以不断探索执法职能的统筹、执法资源的整合以及执法权限的协调。此外，宗教事务部门可以与网信、电信、公安、国家安全、市场监管、文化和旅游等部门形成横向执法联动机制，各级宗教事务部门之间可以形成纵向执法联动机制，将互联网宗教全方位纳入法治化轨道。

Second, enhance the people's sense of security and gain from the legalization of internet religious affairs management through fair judicature. In addition to ensuring that every case is filed and every lawsuit is accepted, it is also necessary to realize open-channel inquiries for all judicial links from case filing to trial, and from adjudication to enforcement, especially using information technology and visualization methods, so that the people can "see" that their legitimate rights and interests are effectively safeguarded. Finally, strive to promote law-abidingness among the entire people, and mobilize the enthusiasm of the broad masses of the people to support the management of internet religious affairs. According to the principle of "whoever enforces the law shall popularize the law," [10]10 "Whoever enforces the law shall popularize the law" (谁执法谁普法) is a principle in China's legal popularization work, assigning the responsibility for explaining relevant laws to the departments that enforce them. religious affairs departments should assume the responsibility for popularizing and explaining laws and regulations in the field of internet religion, so that the people, on the basis of learning the law, can have the ability to discern statements and voices that confuse the public and distort laws and regulations, becoming defenders of the legalization of internet religious affairs management; so that internet platforms have legal awareness, consciously abide by the law, and actively assume corresponding obligations and responsibilities, becoming supporters of the legalization of internet religious affairs management; so that religious circles have a concept of the rule of law, can understand and use the law, use internet religion in accordance with laws and regulations, serve religious believers well, and become practitioners of the legalization of internet religious affairs management.

其次，通过公正司法增强人民群众对互联网宗教事务管理法治化的安全感、获得感。除了要实现有案必立、有诉必理，还要实现从立案到庭审，从裁判到执行等各个司法环节的公开渠道查询，尤其是利用信息化、可视化的方式，让人民群众“看得见”自身的合法权益得到切实维护。最后，努力推进全民守法，调动广大人民群众支持互联网宗教事务管理的积极性。根据“谁执法谁普法”原则，宗教事务部门应该承担起互联网宗教领域法律法规的普及、阐释责任，使人民群众能够在学法的基础上，对一些混淆视听、曲解法律法规的言论和声音具备辨别力，成为互联网宗教事务管理法治化的捍卫者；使互联网平台有法律意识，自觉守法，主动承担起相应的义务和责任，成为互联网宗教事务管理法治化的支持者；使宗教界有法治观念，能够懂法、用法，依法依规利用好互联网宗教，服务好信教群众，成为互联网宗教事务管理法治化的践行者。

(III) Constructing a Tight Rule-of-Law Guarantee System, Providing a Backing for the Legalization of Internet Religious Affairs Management

（三）构建严密的法治保障体系，为互联网宗教事务管理法治化提供后盾

The leadership of the Party is the fundamental guarantee for promoting the legalization of internet religious affairs management. To weave a tight rule-of-law guarantee net, the political leadership of the Party over internet religious affairs management must first be strengthened. First, adhere to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people as the core. Both online and offline, the legitimate rights and interests of the people to freedom of religious belief must be protected. At the same time, focus on resolving conflicts and disputes on the internet that affect social stability and ethnic unity, providing the people with a clean and upright online environment. Second, firmly establish an awareness of internet positions. Guide the construction of online platforms, deeply explore resources, and in addition to doing a good job in publicizing theories, guidelines, and policies, it is even more important to do a good job in legal popularization, conduct online explanations and Q&A on laws and regulations in the field of internet religion, and promptly clarify erroneous public opinion and erroneous viewpoints. Third, strengthen the Party's overall planning and coordination of departments such as united front, public security, judicature, religious affairs, ethnic affairs, and cyberspace affairs, do a good job with key groups, and form a comprehensive management force for internet religious affairs; establish a unified and efficient internet religious information sharing mechanism, security risk reporting mechanism, and research, judgment, and disposal mechanism, enhance the defensive and control capabilities of online ideological security, and prevent hostile forces from using internet religion to carry out ideological infiltration within China's cyberspace. Second, strengthen the guarantee of the rule-of-law workforce. On the one hand, consider building a specialized rule-of-law team for grassroots religious affairs or internet religious affairs, to avoid the phenomenon of inaction or arbitrary action. On the other hand, organize specialized training on internet religious affairs for legislative, law enforcement, and judicial personnel, and incorporate the training content into the management and assessment system, effectively improving the political and professional qualities of rule-of-law workers. Finally, strengthen information technology guarantees. Fully leverage the advantages of "smart rule of law," [11]11 "Smart rule of law" (智慧法治) refers to the use of modern information technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of legal and judicial work. improve the religious work service platform information; make full use of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing to provide, screen, and integrate information and data for internet religious affairs management, and pay attention to key groups; strengthen research on internet religious issues, objectively and effectively combine online information supply with research work, avoid the phenomenon of "two separate skins," [12]12 "Two separate skins" (两张皮) is a Chinese expression describing a situation where two related things are disconnected or fail to integrate properly, often used to criticize formalism or a lack of practical integration in work. thereby providing professional support for the smooth progress of rule-of-law work.

党的领导是推动互联网宗教事务管理法治化的根本保证。要织密法治保障网，首先要加强党对互联网宗教事务管理的政治引领。第一，坚持以维护人民的合法权益为核心。无论在线上还是线下，都要保障人民群众宗教信仰自由的合法权益。同时，着力解决互联网上那些影响社会稳定、民族团结的矛盾纠纷，为人民群众提供风清气正的网络环境。第二，牢固树立互联网阵地意识。引导网络平台建设，深入资源挖掘，除了要做好理论、方针、政策宣传，更要做好普法宣传，进行互联网宗教领域法律法规的网上宣讲以及答疑解惑，并及时澄清错误舆论、错误观点。第三，加强党对统战、公安、司法、宗教、民族、网络信息等部门统筹规划，做好重点人群工作，形成互联网宗教事务综合管理之势；建立统一高效的互联网宗教信息共享机制、安全风险报告机制、研判处置机制，提升网络意识形态安全工作的防御力和管控力，避免敌对势力利用互联网宗教在我国网域内进行意识形态渗透。其次，要加强法治工作人员队伍保障。一方面，考虑构建基层宗教事务方面或互联网宗教事务方面的法治专门队伍，避免不作为或乱作为的现象。另一方面，组织立法、执法、司法人员开展互联网宗教事务方面的专门性培训，并将培训内容纳入管理和考核系统，有效提升法治工作人员的政治素养和业务素养。最后，要强化信息技术保障。充分发挥“智慧法治”的优势，完善宗教工作服务平台信息；充分利用人工智能、大数据、云计算等新技术，为互联网宗教事务管理提供、筛选、整合信息与数据，关注重点人群；加强互联网宗教问题研究，将网络信息供给与研究工作客观、有效地结合，避免出现“两张皮”的现象，从而为法治工作的顺利推进提供专业支持。

The management of internet religious affairs is an important task for safeguarding national security and stability. Improving the level of law-based governance in the management of internet religious affairs is a key measure for implementing the major decisions and deployments of the Party and the state concerning religious work. Over the past two decades and more, China has formed a four-party joint policy framework for the management of internet religious affairs, and the construction of the rule of law in related fields has continuously kept pace. These two forces, operating in a dual-wheel drive model, have gradually elevated the capacity for managing internet religious affairs. However, we must face the reality that the law-based governance of internet religious affairs still confronts certain practical challenges. In particular, the importance of law-based governance in this area does not match the limited quantity of legislation; as the trend of religious networking intensifies, the difficulty of decision-making for administrative law enforcement departments and the difficulty of performing duties for law enforcement personnel have both increased; the ambiguity of legal popularization responsibilities and the inadequate interpretation of laws and regulations persist, causing some internet platforms to adopt a "standoffish" attitude, and leading individual religious figures and believers to misunderstand relevant laws and regulations. In response to these realities, this article considers pathways for improving the level of law-based governance in the management of internet religious affairs from the perspectives of perfecting the construction of laws and regulations, comprehensively advancing the construction of a law enforcement system, and building a tight legal guarantee system. Of course, the improvement of the level of law-based governance is not limited to these three aspects; it can also be expanded through research on the construction of a legal supervision system and the construction of an intra-Party regulations system. In summary, this is a question worthy of further deep reflection and exploration, with the aim of advancing the law-based governance of internet religious affairs to a new level.

互联网宗教事务管理是维护国家安全稳定的一项重要工作。提高互联网宗教事务管理法治化水平是落实党和国家关于宗教工作重大决策部署的重要举措。二十多年来，我国已经形成了四方联动的互联网宗教事务管理政策框架，相关领域的法治建设不断跟进，二者以双轮驱动的模式推动着互联网宗教事务管理能力逐步攀升。但是，我们需要正视互联网宗教事务管理法治化还面临着一些现实挑战。尤其是，互联网宗教事务管理法治化的重要性与立法数量的有限性不匹配；随着宗教网络化趋势增强，行政执法部门的决策难度、执法人员的履职难度都有所增加；普法责任模糊、法律法规阐释不到位的情况依然存在，致使部分互联网平台出现了“置身事外”的状态，个别宗教界人士、信教群众对相关法律法规产生误解。面对这些现实情况，本文从完善法律法规建设、全方位推进法治实施体系建设、构建严密的法治保障体系等方面思考提高互联网宗教事务管理法治化水平的路径。当然，法治化水平的提高不局限于以上三个方面，还可以从法治监督体系建设、党内法规体系建设等方面加以拓展研究。总之，这是一个值得进一步深思和探讨的问题，以期推动互联网宗教事务管理法治化迈上新台阶。

(Author’s brief biography: Zhang Xiaochen, Associate Professor, School of Marxism, North China University of Technology)

（作者简介：张晓晨，北方工业大学马克思主义学院副教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心