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Religious Renaissance in China Today

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  • Richard Madsen

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Reform Era in 1979, there has been a rapid growth and development of religious belief and practice in China. A substantial new scholarly literature has been generated in the attempt to document and understand this. This essay identifies the most important contributions to that literature and discusses areas of agreement and controversy across the literature. Along with new data, new paradigms have developed to frame research on Chinese religions. The paradigm derived from C. K. Yang’s classic work in the 1960s came from structural functionalism, which served to unite research in the humanities and social sciences. However, structural functionalism has been abandoned by the new generation of scholars. In the humanities, the most popular paradigm derives from Michel Foucault, but there are also scholars who use neo-Durkheimian and neo-Weberian paradigms. In the social sciences, the dominant paradigms tend to focus on state-society relations. None of these paradigms fully captures the complexity of the transformations happening in China. We recommend greater dialogue between the humanities and social sciences in search of more adequate theoretical frameworks for understanding Chinese religions today.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Madsen, 2011. "Religious Renaissance in China Today," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 17-42.
    • Handle: RePEc:gig:chaktu:v:40:y:2011:i:2:p:17-42
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lawrence C. Reardon, 2011. "Ideational Learning and the Paradox of Chinese Catholic Reconciliation," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 43-70.
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    Cited by:

    1. Shuai Chi & Chao Liu, 2024. "Folk religion as the “life-world”: revival of folk beliefs and renewal of religious categorization in contemporary China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Jun Lu & Qin Gao, 2017. "Faith and Happiness in China: Roles of Religious Identity, Beliefs, and Practice," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 273-290, May.
    3. Lawrence C. Reardon, 2011. "Ideational Learning and the Paradox of Chinese Catholic Reconciliation," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 43-70.
    4. André Laliberté, 2011. "Religion and the State in China: The Limits of Institutionalization," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 3-15.
    5. André Laliberté, 2011. "Buddhist Revival under State Watch," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 107-134.
    6. Andy Yee, 2011. "Maritime Territorial Disputes in East Asia: A Comparative Analysis of the South China Sea and the East China Sea," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 165-193.
    7. Meng-chi Hsueh, 2021. "Religious revival or control? Reading the spatial politics of an officially atheist country’s planning of religious scenic areas: Three cases in Shaanxi, China," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(4), pages 818-837, June.
    8. David C. Schak, 2011. "Protestantism in China: A Dilemma for the Party-State," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 71-106.

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    1. David C. Schak, 2011. "Protestantism in China: A Dilemma for the Party-State," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 71-106.
    2. André Laliberté, 2011. "Buddhist Revival under State Watch," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 40(2), pages 107-134.
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