Money and religion have always been at odds, and when several famous Buddhist temples in China recently sought to go public, the line separating religion and riches was once again blurred. The Putuo Mountain, one of China's four major Buddhist mountains, drew particular attention when its officials announced their intention to go public.

 Some people have asked whether any place is immune to the corrupting influence of money. Because the religious sites are public resources, it's assumed that economic benefits should not be the only criterion for determining how well a sacred mountain is operated. The impact on visitors and the religious community from listing these mountains on the stock market should be taken into consideration, as should the possibility of commercialization impinging on the sacred atmosphere.

Others feel it is acceptable for religious locations to go public, saying it is not the holy mountain itself that is commercialized, but rather the relevant tourism companies.

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Chen Jie

Beijing Business Today

As long as there is a balance between cultural protection and profit-making, it's all right for these holy places to get listed. In the context of the market economy, these scenic spots are actually already operating under companies. The Putuo Mountain is now under the Putuo Mountain Tourism Development Co. Ltd. Like any company, they need to spend and also make money. As tourist destinations, these famous cultural and religious spots require expenses for publicity and environmental improvement. Apart from small government subsidies, they must raise funds through market operations. As operating costs rise, the need for moneymaking ventures naturally arises. Most importantly, these companies must spend money on maintaining and improving of the mountain scenery and historical culture.

Liu Simin

The Beijing News

Although religious resources themselves should not go public, their surrounding tourism resources should be allowed to do so. In China and across the world, holy sites tend to be major tourism destinations, so the surrounding commercial atmosphere is not easily curbed regardless of whether they are on the stock market. I think we should allow religious resources to serve tourism resources indirectly.

 The public's worries, of course, are not baseless. Given the negative impact of commercialization on some scenic spots, it's necessary to make careful preparations before the mountains go public. With careful planning and consideration, the religious resources may be even better protected in the future.