中国有多少非无神论者？最新数字统计可能会让您大吃一惊。一项由华东师范大学教授进行的调查显示，中国16岁以上的宗教教徒达3亿人，占这一年龄段人数的31.4%。资料同时显示，佛教、道教、天主教、基督教和伊斯兰是中国现行的五大宗教，而佛教、道教等中国传统宗教的复苏是中国“宗教现象”的一大特色。调查认为，中国宗教信徒增多与中国现行的宗教信仰自由政策有关，同时，新形势下新涌现的一系列社会矛盾也是宗教复活的一大因素。

Believers pray in a church in Shanghai on the Christmas Eve in this December 24, 2006 photo. A survey has found that the number of religious believers is three times bigger than the official estimate. [newsphoto]

The number of people who describe themselves as religious is a startling three times more than the official estimate, according to the country's first major survey on religious beliefs.

The poll of about 4,500 people, conducted by professors Tong Shijun and Liu Zhongyu of Shanghai-based East China Normal University from 2005 till recently, found that 31.4 percent of Chinese aged 16 and above or about 300 million are religious.

This is in sharp contrast to the official figure of 100 million, which has remained largely unchanged for years.

According to the survey, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity and Islam are the five major religions, accounting for 67.4 percent of believers.

A striking feature is there-vitalizationof traditional Chinese religions.

About 200 million people are Buddists, Taoists or worshippers of legendary figures such as the Dragon King and God of Fortune, accounting for 66.1 per cent of all believers.

Also significant is the big rise in followers of Christianity.

According to official figures, their number rose from less than 10 million in the late 1990s to 16 million in 2005; but the survey finds 12 percent of all believers, or 40 million, are Christians.

The survey alsosheds light onreasons behind the religious revival.

Of the 1,361 people surveyed, 24.1 percent said religion "shows the true path of life"; and 28 percent said it "helps cure illness, avoid disasters and ensure that life is smooth".

"This kind of feeling is especially common in rural areas," Liu was quoted as saying in the latest issue of Chinese-language Oriental Outlook magazine, which published the survey.

However, Liu disagreed that religious passion is fanned by poverty. For example, many new believers in recent years are from the economically-developed coastal areas.