Religion

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Christmas between consumerism and religious struggle
Christmas is not just a consumer holiday in China, either. For many Chinese Christians, Christmas Eve is the most important holiday of the year. Since the pandemic, however, unofficial house churches have encountered more obstacles than usual. continue reading →
Kerstin Han – life in a Buddhist monastery
When Kerstin Han stepped into a Buddhist temple in Xi’an five years ago and told one of the monks there that she wanted to become a Buddhist and a permanent member, the monk’s eyes widened and he turned pale. The only way he had ever known foreigners was when they came to the temple, took […] continue reading →
Vatican allows Beijing to elect bishop
China and the Vatican reached an agreement. As was announced over the weekend, a secret agreement from 2018 was extended. In it, the Vatican allows the Chinese government to elect bishops on the Mainland which will then be approved by Rome. According to reports, the deal has been extended for two years.“After appropriate consultation and […] continue reading →
Islam with Chinese characteristics
Since 2016, China's President Xi Jinping has been propagating a "Sinicization of religions". Religious communities are tolerated – but only if they are subordinate to socialism. Muslim communities are being "renovated" accordingly, for example, the Niujie district in Beijing or the Nanguan Mosque in the northwestern Chinese city of Yinchuan. continue reading →
Stefanie Schweiger – tracking down China’s spirituality
When Stefanie Schweiger was little, her father often traveled to China on business trips. Every time he came back, he would take a gift for her out of his suitcase. “I had a part on my shelf just for all the things he brought me back from there,” she says. “They were sacred to me.”Schweiger […] continue reading →
Maja Linnemann – Sinologist with a fascination for cemeteries
“I’m interested in many things,” says Maja Linnemann, “but cemeteries have always had a special effect on me.” Two years ago, Linnemann’s book “Letzte Dinge. Tod und Bestattungskultur in China” was published by Drachenhaus Verlag, the same year she started the blog “Friedhofswelten.” “The ancient culture of China permeates everywhere, including in the way death […] continue reading →
Pope wants new agreement
Pope Francis hopes to renew the controversial agreement with the People’s Republic of China on the appointment of bishops – though there are still coordination problems, the pope Reuters. “The agreement is good, and I hope it can be renewed in October,” the pope added.Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin is on duty as a […] continue reading →
Philip Clart – a sinologist with a soft spot for religious movements
Philip Clart can barely be reached at the moment. His research semester in Cambridge recently ended, “sadly,” he says. Now he’s back in the busy life of the University of Leipzig and jumps from appointment to appointment. Just finished with his lectures, he is next off to attend a lecture by one of his colleagues, […] continue reading →