& They Are Going to Enforce This HOW??????

Headline from TimesOnLine:

China tells living Buddhas to obtain permission before they reincarnate

Yes, you read the headline right. Here is what is happening:

Tibet’s living Buddhas have been banned from reincarnation without permission from China’s atheist leaders. The ban is included in new rules intended to assert Beijing’s authority over Tibet’s restive and deeply Buddhist people.

“The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,” according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1.

Actually, this is an attempt by China to stamp out any possible source of rebellion against its occupation of Tibet. They are trying to do to Buddhism what they tried to do with Catholicism back in the 1950s. & with the strength of the underground church, we know how well they didn't suceed in that attempt.

The fact that Buddhism is wrong in its views on salvation & reincarnation aside, this whole event reminds me of 1 fact, communism can stand no competetion. This, with the fact of China appointing another Bishop without the Vatican's approval shows that any claims to the contrary, China is STILL not to be as readily trusted as we do. These events & what has been happenning with various imports, ie the toy, dog food & toothpaste recalls, raise some concerns in my mind. 1 of them is what I just said about trust, how we are dealing with them almost unquestioningly. I think we need to go back to President Reagan's suggestion: "Trust, but verify."

What lies ahead depends on what the USA & other nations decides in handling Communist China. Ultimately, it lies in the hands of God. The fall of Communism in Eastern Europe should be a sign that in the end any political system based on a socialist world view, esp 1 that eliminates Christ & God, is doomed to failure.

Jeff Miller of The Curt Jester (No Reincarnation Zone) where I 1st found this, had the best take on this: "I can imagine a Chinese official at the second coming saying to Jesus "You up there, do you have a permit for that?"" That catches the communist arrogance perfectly.