Books by Richard Madsen
“Richard Madsen is one of the pioneers of Chinese religious study in the West. He has looked at many different practices, and written a lot about Catholicism, but in this book he looks at Taiwan’s political democratisation in the 80s. He shows that Buddhist groups like Fo Guang Shan, Tzu Chi and Dharma Drum Mountain were all part of a rise of civil society – somewhat similar to the Catholic Church in Poland during the Cold War, helping to undermine authoritarian control, but indirectly. There wasn’t a figurehead like Pope John Paul II, but they did help to pluralise society, and to spread ideas of equality. When I was in Taiwan in the 80s and 90s, people were starting to complain that the government shouldn’t be able to park their cars illegally, or to embezzle money. Some people in China think that, but they don’t speak out as openly about it as people in Taiwan did.” Read more...
Interviews where books by Richard Madsen were recommended
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1
The Religious Question in Modern China
by Vincent Goossaert and David Palmer -
2
Qigong Fever
by David Palmer -
3
The Missionary's Curse and Other Tales from a Chinese Catholic Village
by Henrietta Harrison -
4
Zen Baggage: A Pilgrimage to China
by Bill Porter -
5
Democracy’s Dharma: Religious Renaissance and Political Development in Taiwan
by Richard Madsen
The best books on Religion in China, recommended by Ian Johnson
The best books on Religion in China, recommended by Ian Johnson
China is a religious country with all kinds of faiths being practised across its vast territories—despite Mao’s attempts to eradicate them. The Chinese Communist Party tolerates a variety of religions but continues to grapple with the potential challenge they pose to its authority. Prize-winning journalist Ian Johnson introduces the best books on the complex topic of religion in China.
