Religious Belief and Practice in Urban China 1995-2005

TY - JOUR

T1 - Religious Belief and Practice in Urban China 1995-2005

AU - Yao, Xinzhong

PY - 2007/5

Y1 - 2007/5

N2 - Drawing on relevant data from surveys conducted in 1995 and 2005, this article explores the perceptible changes in religious beliefs and practices among the Han Chinese in urban areas during this ten-year period. Through analysing the survey data, the article attempts to examine these changes—the increasing awareness of religious others and the more revealing interaction between change and continuity—in the context of greater changes of society, economy, and politics. It concludes that, while commercialism and rationalism continue to dominate the ideological sky of urban China, spiritual beliefs and practices in various forms have also gained a strong footing in contemporary society and demonstrate a complex religiosity.

AB - Drawing on relevant data from surveys conducted in 1995 and 2005, this article explores the perceptible changes in religious beliefs and practices among the Han Chinese in urban areas during this ten-year period. Through analysing the survey data, the article attempts to examine these changes—the increasing awareness of religious others and the more revealing interaction between change and continuity—in the context of greater changes of society, economy, and politics. It concludes that, while commercialism and rationalism continue to dominate the ideological sky of urban China, spiritual beliefs and practices in various forms have also gained a strong footing in contemporary society and demonstrate a complex religiosity.

KW - Religious Experience

U2 - 10.1080/13537900701331031

DO - 10.1080/13537900701331031

M3 - Article

SN - 1353-7903

VL - 22

SP - 169

EP - 185

JO - JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RELIGION

JF - JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RELIGION

IS - 2

ER -