FACULTY LEADER
Thomas Banchoff
RELATED PROGRAM
Religious Pluralism in World Affairs
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Democracy and the New Religious Pluralism
Report of the Symposium on Evangelicals and Foreign Policy
Religious Pluralism, Globalization, and World Politics
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Religion in China and the United States
China and the United States are leading global powers with very different constellations of religion, society, and politics. Knowledge of those differences, their origins, and their contemporary implications, remains weak in both countries. The Religion in China and the US Project seeks to promote dialogue, improve understanding, and inform better policy. Its research and outreach activities do not obscure sharp differences between both countries, for example on the issue of religious freedom. The project is premised on the view that a deeper grasp of both differences and commonalities is a crucial way forward.
The project has three interrelated parts.
High-level dialogue. In February 2008, Georgetown signed a cooperative agreement with the Center for Religious Studies of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) of the People’s Republic of China to hold an annual meeting to foster dialogue around issues of religion, culture, and society. The first meeting, held at the Berkley Center in November 2008, addressed three topics: international religious freedom; Christianity, Confucianism and Political Culture; and Religion and Economic and Social Development. A follow-on meeting will be held in Beijing in December 2009.
Postdoctoral fellow. The Center holds an annual competition for a young Chinese scholar of religious studies to serve as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Liyong Dai, an expert on traditional Chinese religions in their encounter with globalization, was in residence in 2007-09. Dr. Yichao Tu, who works on religion and international relations, is the 2009-10 postdoctoral fellow.
A bilingual website. In development since 2008 and slated for publication in fall 2009, the English-Chinese website will provide overview of religion and society in the US and China; a mapping of the study of religion and society in both countries; and an introduction to the world’s major religious traditions. .
High-level dialogue. In February 2008, Georgetown signed a cooperative agreement with the Center for Religious Studies of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) of the People’s Republic of China to hold an annual meeting to foster dialogue around issues of religion, culture, and society. The first meeting, held at the Berkley Center in November 2008, addressed three topics: international religious freedom; Christianity, Confucianism and Political Culture; and Religion and Economic and Social Development. A follow-on meeting will be held in Beijing in December 2009.
Postdoctoral fellow. The Center holds an annual competition for a young Chinese scholar of religious studies to serve as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Liyong Dai, an expert on traditional Chinese religions in their encounter with globalization, was in residence in 2007-09. Dr. Yichao Tu, who works on religion and international relations, is the 2009-10 postdoctoral fellow.
A bilingual website. In development since 2008 and slated for publication in fall 2009, the English-Chinese website will provide overview of religion and society in the US and China; a mapping of the study of religion and society in both countries; and an introduction to the world’s major religious traditions. .
