No bible ban, China says

[snopes]

China has denied reports that visitors attending the 2008 Summer Olympics can't bring Bibles but added that they must keep their literature to themselves.

Authorities have "never promulgated such regulation as the so-called ban on Bibles in the Olympic village," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a news conference. "I'm deeply suspicious of the hidden agenda of people spreading that rumor."

Liu added, however, that foreigners entering China must confine any written, audio or video materials to personal use. Despite a constitution that guarantees freedom of religion, Beijing keeps a tight grip on religious activities that it views as potentially destabilizing or politically threatening. Analysts say this stance stems in part from officials' beliefs that the Roman Catholic Church played a key role in undermining Polish Communism in the 1980s.

Beijing officials also have vowed to punish anyone who takes part in demonstrations at Olympic sites without first registering with authorities and obtaining a permit. Such permits are rarely granted.

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-foreign2dec02

[Skeptic]

China has denied reports that visitors attending the 2008 Summer Olympics can't bring Bibles but added that they must keep their literature to themselves.

Sorry to be pedantic China, but that is a ban on the bible. Incidentally, I am an atheist, so I really don't care for the bible, but if someone wants to read it then that is their right.

[FullMetal]

to play devils advocate, it's not a ban, a ban would mean if they catch you with a bible, they'll confiscate it. This they're just saying don't be reading the bible outloud in public.

That's not a ban on the book. it's more a ban on evangelizing. So we can argue semantics back and forth all day, but when the rumour is that you can't bring a bible, that is incorrect, you can have a bible, and read it yourself, and most likely among like minded individuals, just don't go preaching to the locals.