On November 18, 2014, the Special Academic Symposium and Outstanding Student Awards Ceremony for the journal JRCC, jointly organized by the Center for the Study of Religion and Chinese Society at Shanghai University and the Center for the Study of Christianity and Chinese Society in Los Angeles, USA, was successfully held in a bookstore within the South Dormitory Area of Shanghai University's Baoshan Campus. Attendees included Professor Ling Li, Editor-in-Chief of JRCC from Los Angeles, USA; Professor Li Xiangping from East China Normal University, Professor Tao Feiya, Associate Professor Xiao Qinghe, and Dr. Shu Jian from the College of Liberal Arts at Shanghai University, along with 22 award-winning doctoral and master's students from universities across China.
The event was chaired by Dr. Xiao Qinghe, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of JRCC and faculty member of the History Department at Shanghai University. Professor Tao Feiya delivered the welcome address. Professor Li Xiangping, Head of the Sociology Department at East China Normal University, then delivered a keynote academic presentation. The theme of this presentation was the theories and methodologies of Christian studies. In his presentation, Professor Li Xiangping discussed in detail the different paradigms and methodological differences in Chinese Christian studies, the relationship between Christianity and modern society, the characteristics of the nation-state and Christianity, and the identity of Christianity in Chinese society. At the conclusion of his presentation, he posed an insightful question: Why did Christianity become an issue in modern China? Following the keynote address, Dr. Xiao Qinghe provided an in-depth summary. Participants responded to and discussed Professor Li Xiangping's presentation and the questions he raised. Wu Hua from the Institute of Religious Studies at Sichuan University argued that it is not Christianity specifically that poses a problem in China, but religion in general. Professor Li Ling offered a detailed explanation of the differences between Buddhist and Christian beliefs. Professor Tao Feiya provided a positive response regarding the methodologies of Christian studies.
Finally, Professor Li Ling, Editor-in-Chief of JRCC and Director of the Center for Christianity and Chinese Studies in Los Angeles, explained the origins of the journal's Outstanding Student Award and presented the awards to the recipients.
JRCC (ISSN: 2325-9914) is jointly edited and published by the Center for Religion and Chinese Society at Shanghai University and the Center for Christianity and Chinese Studies in Los Angeles, USA. A total of 22 students from various Chinese universities, including Renmin University of China, Sichuan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shandong University, and Shanghai University, received the Outstanding Student Award from Studies in Chinese Christianity. Among them, 11 were doctoral candidates and 11 were master's candidates. (Contributed by Wang Dandan)