Religion Talks on Campus

History of Christianity in China: How a Global Religion Became Localised

Peter Tze Ming Ng
Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Chinese Society
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Thursday, 22 March, 4:30-5:45
University Hall Room 303

In 1807, the first Protestant missionary arrived in China. By 1952, all Christian missionaries were driven out of China under Communist rule. Is the ending of the missionary era the "judgement of God," as claimed by some Chinese and western Christian leaders? What is the experience of Chinese Christianity in the last 55 years?

Professor Ng is the Director of the Centre for the Study of Religion and Chinese Society at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He earned his Ph.D. in 1985 from the University of London Institute of Education.

Buddhism in Contemporary China: A Retrospective and Prospective View

Fang Xuan
Professor of Buddhist Studies
Renmin University of China
Wednesday, 28 March, 4:00-5:30
Class of 1950 Lecture Hall Room 125

Chinese Buddhism in the 20th century suffered in social and political turmoil, and began recovery and revival since the late 1970s. What are the changing policies of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the varied attitudes of CCP leaders Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao toward Buddhism? What is the relationship between Buddhism and modernity? Is Buddhism sacralising or secularising?

Dr. Xuan is Associate Professor of Buddhist Studies at Renmin University of China. He has numerous publications and is a research fellow at multiple institutions. Currently he is a visiting scholar at Harvard-Yenching Institute.