Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization
My article explores how Catholicism interacts with various forces and players in the local and political arena since it migrated into Bailu, China. My argument is based on extensive fieldwork done at two seminaries and one church there. I have shown that: (1) Catholicism encountered different secula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/8/661 |
| _version_ | 1828715093953609728 |
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| author | Xianghui Liao |
| author_facet | Xianghui Liao |
| author_sort | Xianghui Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | My article explores how Catholicism interacts with various forces and players in the local and political arena since it migrated into Bailu, China. My argument is based on extensive fieldwork done at two seminaries and one church there. I have shown that: (1) Catholicism encountered different secular forces and survived through effective interaction with them, (2) a market-oriented economy led to the commercialization of once-authentic religious sites for tourism and economic development, and (3) the secularization of Catholicism results in a unique paradox: Catholicism’s public influence on tourism and economic development has been increasing, while its activities and church attendance have not followed synchronously. This paradox manifests itself in two facts: though the town has benefited from Catholicism’s presence, measured by religious symbols and in numbers have been gradually reduced and even removed; and though its French influence makes this town a tourist destination, the prevailing Chinese culture has not been undermined but reinforced. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:26:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c044ff293a554f969730a7d5222e6612 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:26:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-c044ff293a554f969730a7d5222e66122023-11-22T09:30:56ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-08-0112866110.3390/rel12080661Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or SecularizationXianghui Liao0Management School, North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong 637100, ChinaMy article explores how Catholicism interacts with various forces and players in the local and political arena since it migrated into Bailu, China. My argument is based on extensive fieldwork done at two seminaries and one church there. I have shown that: (1) Catholicism encountered different secular forces and survived through effective interaction with them, (2) a market-oriented economy led to the commercialization of once-authentic religious sites for tourism and economic development, and (3) the secularization of Catholicism results in a unique paradox: Catholicism’s public influence on tourism and economic development has been increasing, while its activities and church attendance have not followed synchronously. This paradox manifests itself in two facts: though the town has benefited from Catholicism’s presence, measured by religious symbols and in numbers have been gradually reduced and even removed; and though its French influence makes this town a tourist destination, the prevailing Chinese culture has not been undermined but reinforced.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/8/661CatholicismChinasecularizationtourism<i>Seminarium Annunciationis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Xianghui Liao Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization Religions Catholicism China secularization tourism <i>Seminarium Annunciationis</i> |
| title | Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization |
| title_full | Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization |
| title_fullStr | Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization |
| title_short | Bailu’s Catholicism in China: Religious Inculturation, Tourist Attraction, or Secularization |
| title_sort | bailu s catholicism in china religious inculturation tourist attraction or secularization |
| topic | Catholicism China secularization tourism <i>Seminarium Annunciationis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/8/661 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xianghuiliao bailuscatholicisminchinareligiousinculturationtouristattractionorsecularization |