Chinese Religion and Familism: The Basis of Chinese Culture, Society, and Government

About the Author

Jordan Paper is Professor Emeritus at York University (Toronto) and a Fellow at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria (BC), Canada. He is author of a dozen books covering Chinese Religion, Native American religions, polytheism, mysticism, female spirituality, and Chinese Judaism.

Product Description

Reflecting on over half a century of study on Chinese culture, Jordan Paper explores new ways of approaching religion in China. Moving away from using Christianity as a model for examination, which has led to considerable misunderstandings between China and the West, Paper instead applies the paradigm of Familism to Chinese religion. By looking through the lens of Familism, which emphasises the importance of the family unit, Paper argues that we can understand the basis of Chinese culture, society, government, and religion.

In the book, Paper explains how, when and why Familism appears in the development of human culture in the Neolithic period, as well as its ramifications in more complex societies, using the imperial Chinese state as an example. The discussion in the book includes how the Chinese state can be understood as a religious institution; the role of spirit possession; the relationship of other religions in China to Chinese Religion, including Buddhism, Daoism and Judaism; and the issue of freedom of religion in contemporary China.

Chinese Religion and Familism not only challenges the discipline's perception of Chinese religion, but all of the religions of East Asia, indigenous sub-Saharan African religions, Polynesian Religion, and elsewhere.

Review

Jordan Paper delivers an introduction to Chinese religion-singular, by way of debunking widespread misconceptions that stem from ethnocentric and Christian-centric lenses. His grand narrative of Familism to understand all religion will also interest specialists. The most compelling examples come from his own personal path, intellectual history, and fieldwork experience.
Kin Cheung, Assistant Professor of Asian Religions, Moravian College, USA

This book centers 'Familism' as the heart of religion worldwide, best understood through the analytical lens of its Chinese expression. Countering the Christian-dominated legacy of comparative religious studies, Jordan Paper's provocative analysis will revolutionize not only the study of Chinese religion, but religious studies as an academic discipline.
Randall Nadeau, Professor of East Asian Studies, Trinity University, USA

This is a refreshing look at the distinctive forms of Chinese religiosity through a lens not clouded by the 'cognitive imperialist' biases that have obscured many earlier efforts.
Harold D. Roth, Professor of Religious Studies and East Asian Studies, Brown University, USA