Seeing the Gospel from Zhuangzi’s Worldview
Could Zhuangzi have something to teach us about the gospel?
Buddhism
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Important Themes in Zhuangzi’s Teachings
How Buddhist teachings resonated with China's cultural identity making way for its spread.
Reconsidering Traditional Teachings in Difficult Times
Could the entrance of Buddhism into China offer cultural insights on how to share the message of Christ in China today?
Paths of the Soul
Regardless of each person’s personal reason, the ultimate purpose of the pilgrimage was to pray for others.
Jesus: The Path to Human Flourishing
An excellent book for anyone who engages with cultural Chinese or who is doing the challenging work of contextualization.
Religion in China—By the Numbers
Some interesting statistics from the new government White Paper on religious belief and practice in China.
China’s Religious Revival
A genuine "must-read" for those seeking to understand the complexities of religious life in China today.
Christianity and China’s “Religious Ecology”
In China, the study of religion as an academic discipline has been gaining momentum in recent years. Centers and institutes for the study of religion have been established at numerous top-tier Chinese universities. As research on religion in China grows, indigenous theories regarding the role of religion in Chinese society and culture are also being constructed and debated. One theoretical framework of note is the “religious ecology” model.
China’s God-Shaped Vacuum
Our friends at The Gospel Coalition recently asked me to review Ian Johnson’s book The Souls of China: The Return of Religion after Mao. Last week, it was published under the title "China’s God-Shaped Vacuum."
The Souls of China: A Trailer
A sneak peek at longtime China journalist Ian Johnson soon-to-be-released new book The Souls of China: The Return of Religion after Mao. A must-read for those who want to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture and religious life.
Pragmatic Religiosity
One of my favorite China books is Peter Hessler’s Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory. Shortly after the book was published in 2010, a CNN travel reporter interviewed Hessler about the book. There was one particular exchange that caught my attention.
Disability and the Three Traditional Chinese Belief Systems
Within Chinese culture, people with disabilities have been stigmatized and devalued. This is the result of beliefs which create stereotypes leading to prejudice and discrimination. With a desire to reduce this stigma, scholars are examining Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism to uncover any hidden cultural prejudice and stereotypes causing these attitudes. This is a complex endeavor that requires much sensitivity to cultural nuances. However, the goal is for people to come together in honest dialog and humble sensitivity, unified in purpose and compassion to combat prejudice and discrimination.