It is so sad to see the amount of times that churches have been planted in in China and that it never flourished within the country. I often do not understand why the government sees religion as such a threat. Why must it have control of what people believe? This amalgamation of religions is similar to the persecution under Septimius Severus. This was when the empire promoted syncretism and all subjects were brought under the worship of Sol invictus, and all gods were accepted as long as they acknowledged the Sun that reigned over all.