Topics in East Asian Religions (318-0-21)
Topic
Religion in People's Republic of China
Instructors
Antonio Terrone
847/467-1636
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall #4-439
Office Hours: times vary by quarter, please contact instructor
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-420: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
This course will examine the role of religion in post-1980's China with an emphasis on the political implications of the practice of religion in the People's Republic of China. Students will read various forms of literature and policy documents to assess the extent to which Marxist theory is central to the interpretation of "religion" in Communist China. Primary sources will include Chinese constitutional articles, white papers, and editorials in English translation. Secondary sources will cover a wide range of interpretations and perspectives on the position of religious institutions and religious practices in the PRC. The first part of this course will investigate the expression of religiosity under Communism in China; the rehabilitation of Confucian values; the constitutional protection of religion and religious belief in China; the relationship between ethnicity and religious policies; the Sinicization of religion; and the administration of the five officially accepted religious traditions in the People's Republic of China (Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Islam). The second part of the course will focus on the recent cases related to the Muslim Uyghurs of Xinjiang and the Tibetan Buddhists of Western China. The class will explore some of the most controversial issues related to these two ethnic minorities including terrorism, religious violence, nationalism, assimilation, foreign influence, and soft power. The course format will consist of both lectures and discussions, during which students will be encouraged to exercise critical thinking and lead in-class presentations. Students will analyze various types of documents, critically evaluate content and concepts, and endeavor to synthetize the information and communicate it effectively and thoroughly.
Counts towards Religion, Law and Politics (RLP) major concentration.
Learning Objectives
Develop an understanding of the field of religion and politics in China and its global implications Reflect upon the role of religion in Communist China Analyze the Chinese approach to religious revival and control Assess the place of ethnic minorities and their religious cultures in China's rise as a leading economic power Cultivate analytical skills in speaking and writing
Teaching Method
Lecture/discussion
Evaluation Method
Response papers; in-class presentation; term paper
Class Materials (Required)
Anna Sun, Confucianism as a World Religion: Contested Histories and Contemporary Realities, Princeton University Press, 2015 (2013) ISBN 978-0691168111
Adam Yuet-Chau, Religion in China. Polity Press, 2019 - ISBN 978-0745679150
Class Materials (Suggested)
Ian Johnson, The Souls of China: The Return of Religion after Mao. Pantheon Books, 2017 ISBN 978-1101870051
Fenggang Yang, Religion in China: Survival and Revival under Communist Rule, Oxford University Press 2011 - ISBN 978-0199735648
Class Attributes
Ethics & Values Distro Area