Marxism and Religion

Front Cover
BRILL, Feb 27, 2014 - History - 436 pages
In Marxism and Religion leading Chinese scholars unfold before our eyes theoretical explorations of religion in present-day China. In addition, they along with senior cadres superintending religious affairs strenuously explain why the Marxist view of religion still has relevance to living religions in a country undergoing deep changes unleashed by the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policies.
Mistakenly perceived by so many westerners as outdated and dogmatic quasi-scholarly work in the service of communist regime’s propaganda, studies selected here are brainchildren of a group of creative and reform-minded scholars and cadres who endeavor to uphold Marxist traditions while innovatively sinicizing them, hoping that their efforts will contribute to the ruling party’s ideological reconstruction.

Contributors include: Fang Litian, Gao Shining, Gong Xuezeng, He Qimin, Jin Ze, Li Xiangping, Lü Daji, Wang Xiaochao, Wang Zuo’an, Ye Xiaowen, Zhu Xiaoming, and Zhuo Xinping.
 

Contents

Opiate of the Masses with Chinese Characteristics Recent Chinese Scholarship on the Meaning and Future of Religion
1
Part One Theories of Religious Study
21
A Critical Perspective from the Development of Modern Western Religious Studies
23
2 Theories of Religion in Contemporary China
47
3 An Overall Inquiry into the Role Religion Plays in the Strategy of Cultural Development
81
A Fundamental Thesis of Chinese Sociology of Religion
95
5 A Tentative Analysis of the Relationship between Modernization and New Religions
134
6 The Development of Modern Society and the Evolution of Religion
156
8 An Outline of the Basic Theories and Development of Marx and Engels Historical Materialist View of Religion
207
9 A Comprehensive Understanding and Scientific Appraisal of Leninist Perspectives on Religion
263
10 A Survey of Marxist Perspectives on Religion in New China
292
11 On the Sinicized Marxist View of Religion
321
12 On the Socialist View of Religion with Chinese Characteristics
348
13 A Brief Discussion on Theories of Religion and Legal Reconstruction over the Past Twelve Years
376
14 Building a Harmonious Society and New Ideas of Religious Work
387
Bibliography
397

7 A Theoretical Examination of and Reflection on the Global Revival of Religion
189
Part II Marxist Perspectives on Religion and Religion in Contemporary China
205

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