Social scientific studies of religion in China : methodology, theories, and findings / edited by Fenggang Yang and Graeme Lang.

Rev. papers originally presented at the Beijing Summit on Chinese Spirituality and Society, Peking University, Oct. 8-10, 2008. Cf. acknowledgements.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Thirty years of religious studies in China / Guanghu He -- History as a factor in the social scientific study of Chinese religion / J. Gordon Melton -- Explanations of international differences in religion that may apply to China / Daniel V.A. Olson -- The dilemma of pursuing Chinese religious studies within the framework of Western religious theories / Lizhu Fan -- Religion in China : some introductory notes for the intrepid western scholar / Eileen Barker -- Local ritual traditions of southeast China : a challenge to definitions of religion and theories of ritual / Kenneth Dean -- Contemporary Chinese beliefs and spiritual pursuits / Victor Yuan -- Exploring the relationship between religion and ethnicity in China / Qimin He -- From grassroots association to civil society organization : a case study of the Hebei Province Dragon Tablet Fair / Bingzhong Gao and Qiang Ma -- On the problem of developing a mechanism for the participation of religion in the social services sector / Peng Liu -- Religion and environmentalism in Chinese societies / Graeme Lang and Yunfeng Lu -- Secular state and religious society in mainland China and Taiwan / Richard Madsen -- Afterword / Yoshiko Ashiwa and David L. Wank.