Author Description

Religions of Beijing offers an intimate portrayal of lived religion in 18 different religious communities in greater Beijing. Graduate students at Minzu University of China spent one year immersed in the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly routines of these communities, "writing with" the experiences and perspectives of their practitioners. Each chapter was then translated into English, with students at Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) facilitating this process. The result is a bi-lingual book (Mandarin, English) that reveals to Chinese- and English-speaking readers the vibrant diversity of lived religion in contemporary Beijing. Each chapter focuses on the histories, practices, spaces, and members of its community, telling the overall story of the renewed flourishing of religion in Beijing. The book is also enriched with photos that portray this flourishing renewal, capturing the lived experience of ordinary practitioners. Together, the words and photographs of Religions of Beijing draw the reader into the stories and lives of these communities and their members, providing a first-hand look at the contemporary practice of religion in greater Beijing. The religions covered are Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity, Islam and folk religion. Religions of Beijing is a collaboration of Minzu University of China and Drake University, USA