Religion in the Social Transition of Contemporary China: Sino-American Perspectives

The Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute on China and the United States presents a conference that examines the role of religion in American society and the importance attached to religious freedom in United States foreign policy.

The rapid growth of religious activity in China, especially among Christians but including other religions as well, raises profound questions about the relationship of religion to government, its impact on society, and its potential effects on the emerging social challenges facing China. What are the factors shaping the Chinese approach to this critical issue? What challenges does this approach face? How might we expect it to evolve in the future? These are important questions for U.S.-Chinese relations, given the role of religion in American society and the importance attached to religious freedom in United States foreign policy. This two-day conference will examine this critical and timely topic through several lenses from distinguished scholars from both China and the United States.

Agenda

Thursday, October 13

9:30 – 10:00a.m.            Welcome Remarks: J. Stapleton Roy,Director,
                                       Kissinger Institute on China and the United States
                                       and Caleb K. Zia, President, Asia ResearchCenter Foundation

10:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m      PANEL ONE Religion and Religious Policy in China
                                       Moderator: Christopher Wilde, Asia Research Center Foundation
                                       ContemporaryChinese Religions: A Survey of 2011
                                       ZHANG Zhigang, Peking University
                                       The Measurementand Implications of China’s
                                       Changing Religious Demography
                                       Brian Grim, Pew Research Center’s Forumon Religion & Public Life
                                       The Growing Roleof Religion in China–Assessing the Challenges
                                       LI Ling (Daniel), Shanxi Normal University
                                       Believing Without Identifying: TheSociological Interpretation of Beliefs
                                       in Contemporary China (Buddhism andChristianity)
                                       LI Xiang-ping, East China Normal University

12:00 p.m.                       Lunch Break

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.               PANEL TWO Religious Freedom in China: Chinese and
                                       Western Perspectives       
                                       Moderator: J. Stapleton Roy, Director, Kissinger Institute
                                       Discussant: John Hanford, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large
                                       for International Religious Freedom(2002-2009).
                                       Riding the Dragon: China and Religious Freedom
                                       Thomas F. Farr, Georgetown University
                                       Chinese ReligiousFreedom of Belief Under the
                                       Background of Globalization
                                       WANG Xiaochao, Tsinghua University
                                       Religion in aPost-Hu China: What Changes are Probable?
                                       LIU Peng, Chinese Academy of SocialSciences and Emory University

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.             Coffee Break

3:30 – 5:00 p.m.               PANEL THREE Religion and Society: A Comparison of Various
                                      Models Currently Being Practiced in the Chinese Speaking World
                                       Moderator: Caleb K. Zia, Asia Research Center Foundation
                                       The Hong Kong Model and its Adaptability to the Mainland
                                       Benny Yiu Tai, The University of HongKong
                                       Religion and the Development of a Harmonious Society:
                                       A Singaporean Reflection
                                       Michael Poon, Trinity TheologicalCollege
                                       Church Policy inChina—Finding a Workable Model
                                       WANG Aiming, Jinling Union Theological Seminary-Nanjing
                                       Taiwan’s Religious Associations Act: What are the implications?
                                       CHOU Fu-chu, National Taiwan University

This event is a collaboration between the Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute on China and the United States and the Asia Research Center (ARC) Foundation.

As SEATING IS LIMITED, please RSVP to: KissingerInstitute on China and the United States. Media organizations are requested to contactthe Kissinger Institute in advance at 202-691-4057 or sandy.pho@wilsoncenter.org. Please allow for routine security procedures when you arrive at the Center. A photo IDis required for entry. The Center is located in the southeast wing of theRonald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. Theclosest Metro station is Federal Triangle on the blue and orange lines. Fordetailed directions, please visit the Center’s website, www.wilsoncenter.org/directions.