In conversations about China—whether in ministry, education, or academic settings—one word quietly carries great weight: worldview. It shapes not only how people see the world, but how they understand themselves, others, and God. And yet, for many of us engaged in cross-cultural learning or ministry, it remains a category we acknowledge without fully exploring.
Worldview influences how people interpret suffering and hope, how they relate to authority and community, and how they make sense of loyalty, truth, and transcendence. It is present in silence and ritual, resistance and reverence. Often, these things remain invisible to us—especially if we focus only on outward behavior or interpret others through our own assumptions.
We do not need to be philosophers to begin listening more deeply. But we do need to pause long enough to ask: What has shaped the person in front of me? What spiritual, historical, and cultural threads have formed the way they perceive life, death, and meaning?
The Chinese Worldviews Seminar was created to help people engage these very questions. Hosted for the 14th time by the China Academic Consortium (CAC)—an organization committed to Chinese Christianity and spiritual formation in the Chinese context—this course offers a structured yet reflective space to examine the foundations of Chinese thought and its ongoing influence today.
It is designed for those who want to understand what shapes the inner lives of Chinese people—not just observe external behavior. Whether you are a cross-cultural worker, a ministry practitioner, or someone seeking to deepen your understanding of the Chinese world, this seminar invites you into a rich learning journey. The course explores major streams of Chinese thought—Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, folk religion, Islam, and Marxism—and how these traditions shape modern expressions of identity, values, and spirituality.
One of the strengths of this course is its faculty. Participants will hear from scholars such as Prof. He Guanghu (pre-Confucian Chinese faith), Prof. He Qimin (Chinese folk religion), Dr. Li Lin (Islam in China), Prof. Kevin Yao (Christianity and the indigenous church movement), and Dr. Brent Fulton (contemporary religious policy and the church). The course is integrated and facilitated by Dr. Charles Weber, professor emeritus of Wheaton College, who has taught Asian history for over four decades and has accompanied many students through their encounter with Chinese worldviews.
In addition to the core modules, the seminar includes several featured lectures on key historical and social topics. These include Catholic Mission in China: Past and Present by Fr. Michael Agliardo (University of Notre Dame), Chinese Americans by Dr. Tim Tseng (Fuller Seminary), Modern Chinese History: The May Fourth Movement by Dr. Richard Cook (Logos Seminary), History of US-China Relations and Taiwan by Dr. Brent Fulton (ChinaSource), and Marxism and the Current CCP Reality by Dr. Luke Li (Edinburgh University). These sessions add depth and diversity to the learning experience, offering broader context and points of reflection for participants.
The live-stream online seminar is also designed with flexibility in mind and all sessions will be recorded. It takes place across three weekends (Fridays and Saturdays), making it accessible to participants in various time zones. This is a Denver Seminary and Graduate Theological Union (U.C. Berkeley affiliated) recognized course for those seeking graduate-level credit. Undergraduate students may contact CAC for special arrangements if academic credit is needed.
Past participants have described the course as both illuminating and transformative. One person shared:
This course helped me empathize with the complexity behind a Chinese mindset.
Another reflected:
I found the seminar very worthwhile for both the experienced and newcomers to the Chinese world. The teaching staff provides an excellent background in Chinese culture, and current issues in ministry are also explored.
In a time marked by cultural misunderstanding and ideological division, learning to understand others at the level of worldview is not a luxury. It is a necessary posture, especially for those who hope to walk with humility and faithfulness in cross-cultural spaces. Courses like the Chinese Worldviews Seminar help us listen before we speak, and observe before we assume. They offer not just knowledge, but a deeper capacity for compassion.
More information is available here. The course begins at the end of May. If this resonates with you or someone you know, I encourage you to consider joining us.
Sometimes, the first step toward understanding is not doing, but seeing—with greater clarity, patience, and the willingness to ask better questions.
