Flourishing religion among students in a multi-ethnic China: Implications for citizenship values

The concept of ‘religion’ was imported to China from the West in the late nineteenth century and has since been closely intertwined with the construction of the Chinese nation-state. Nonetheless, the representation of religion in education and its role in shaping loyalty to the nation remain a mystery. China has witnessed a widespread religious resurgence and religion continues to play an increasingly prominent role in public life. This is especially obvious in higher education settings, where students often show a strong interest in exploring different religious beliefs. However, the question remains as to how the growing religious forces and values are received by the new generation of Chinese citizens who are exposed to the various ideologies of the post-Mao era. A number of Chinese studies have reported the complicated religious beliefs and multiple motivations among the university student population. However, two basic questions remain unanswered: what are students taught about religiosity in the curriculum before they attend the university, and what role do students think religiosity plays in building a modern, ethno-culturally diverse China? In this study, we aim to explore how religiosity is represented and interwoven in the construction of diversity and national unity in China’s state-run education system.

Funding Source: RGC - General Research Fund (GRF)