WS11 –

In partnership with :

Conference of European Churches / Conférence des Églises Européennes : www.cec-kek.org

Workshop presentation

The life of a society is shaped substantially by the philosophical and religious convictions and beliefs of its members. Among these, religious convictions are in rather different situations in China and in Europe.

For instance, Chinese society has seen an unprecedented growth in Christianity since the 1990s. If this growth continues it might eventually change the face of the country’s spirituality, ways of thinking and even sociological structure.

What relationship does Christianity have with the other spiritual movements in China and is it possible to identify the socio-political factors that are favouring its development?

A religion of Western origin introduced into China back in the 16th century, Christianity has had an eventful history and has met with a good many obstacles to its development. If this situation has changed today, is it because Chinese society has changed or has Christianity itself undergone changes to adapt to Chinese society?

Finally, what impact is this transformation of the spiritual landscape of China likely to have on the construction of the harmonious society that the Chinese authorities wish to bring about?

In Europe, Christian religions have for a long time shaped the structure of Western societies, even if Moslem and Jewish contributions have played a significant role in their development, notably in certain areas of intellectual and economic life. If a great many political events or wars have come about in the name of religion, if their influence continues to be felt beyond a cultural identity strongly marked by Christianity, a long process of secularisation and laicisation of the mind and the institutions should not be overlooked. In Europe today we are witnessing both a “disillusionment with the world”, which is not however the same thing as an elimination of personal beliefs, and at the same time a “return of the religious” in which the position of religions and spiritual traditions of all kinds is strengthening, Behaviour vary in these fields, sometimes linked with the assertion of demands related to culture or identity, sometimes characterized by eclectic forms of religious consumerism.

In what way has the building of Europe taken the religious factor into account and what relationship does it have with secularity? Is there a European conception of the role that can be played by religions and spiritual movements in a harmonious society?

In these days of globalisation, what is the place and role of religions in modern societies?