Religious Diversity and Public Religion in China

by Zhibin Xie

Overview

This book addresses the issue of public religion and its implications in Chinese society. Zhibin Xie explores various normative considerations concerning the appropriate role of religion in public political life in a democratic culture. Besides drawing on the theoretical discourse on religion in the public sphere from Western academics, it holds that the issue of religion in Chinese politics should be addressed by paying attention to characteristics of religious diversity and its political context in China. This leads to a position of "liberal-constrained public religion" in China, which encourages religious contribution to the public sphere as a substantial component of religious liberty in China on the one hand and proposes some constraints both upon government and religions for regulating religious political discourse on the other.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781351904667
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/02/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	168
File size:	704 KB

About the Author

Zhibin Xie earned his Ph.D. in philosophy of religion from the University of Hong Kong His area of research is religion and society, Christian theology and public life in particular, and he has published several articles in Studies in Interreligious Dialogue, Logos & Pneuma: Chinese Journal of Theology, Regent Review of Christian Thoughts and Journal for the Study of Christian Culture.

Table of Contents

Contents: Introduction. Part I Theory: The Publicness of Religion and Religion in Public Political Culture: The publicness of religion; Liberal restraint on religion in public political cuture; Criticisms of liberal restraint; Religion in modern democratic pluralistic society. Part II Religion and Its Political Context in China: Religion in China; The political context of religion in China. Part III The Appropriate Role of Religion in Public Political Culture in a Democratic China: A Proposal: Religious liberty and the public role of religion; Religious diversity and Chinese political culture. Conclusion; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

’Zhibin Xie has written an ambitious and commendable book that makes a timely contribution to academic discussions about religion in China.’ The China Journal ’The strength of this book lies in its philosophical discourse...’ International Bulletin of Missionary Research ’... both an intriguing and courageous book.’ Journal of Chinese Religions

From the Publisher