Structuring Values in Modern China

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/structuring-values-modern-china

Introduction

**Course Review: Structuring Values in Modern China (Coursera)** **Overview:** "Structuring Values in Modern China" is a comprehensive four-course sequence presented on Coursera, designed for those interested in understanding the evolution of Chinese cultural history through a multi-disciplinary lens. The program investigates the transition between various modes of rationality—philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic—highlighting moments of paradigm shifts. By delving into cultural artifacts and facts—such as thought, literature, and rituals—in conjunction with changing social, political, and economic systems, the course provides a profound insight into the complexities of modern Chinese society. **Course Highlights:** Each module meticulously addresses pivotal themes that have shaped the intellectual landscape of China, particularly in the 20th century. 1. **Module 21: Religion and Modernity** - This segment critically explores the emergence of science, market, and nationalist values as dominant forces among China's intellectual elite. It revealingly showcases how these modern values eroded traditional religious beliefs, while also examining the resilience and adaptation of these religions. 2. **Module 22: Economics** - Participants will be introduced to the historical context of traditional Chinese governance vis-à-vis market-based economics. This module elucidates the emergence of the science of economics in 20th-century China and its transformative impact on governance and individual subjectivity. 3. **Module 23: Science and Scientism** - Here, distinctions between science and scientism are discussed, alongside how scientism undermined traditional religions. A reflective discussion encourages participants to re-evaluate the intersections of science, morality, and religious concerns. 4. **Module 24: Gender** - This module tackles the biases inherent among the intellectual elite concerning gender, juxtaposing these views with the empowering aspects of various religious traditions that advocate for women's rights and agency, especially against the backdrop of 'public patriarchy'. 5. **Module 25: Redemptive Societies and Charity Halls** - This module introduces lay religious movements like spirit writing groups and how they addressed societal crises in 19th and 20th century China. It interconnects the historical trajectory of organizations like Yiguandao with modern charitable practices. 6. **Module 26: Charismatic Christianity** - This engaging segment examines the rise of charismatic Protestantism in China, its indigenous roots, and its appeal to women, drawing parallels with other popular religious movements. 7. **Module 27: By Way of Conclusion** - The course wraps up by contrasting Chinese and Western dualisms, influenced by their respective writing systems, and discusses the cultural rift between elite and popular practices that persist in contemporary society. **Why Take This Course?** - **Depth of Knowledge:** The course offers rich, academic insights into China's cultural shifts, taught by knowledgeable instructors who provide a rigorous analysis of complex themes. - **Interdisciplinary Approach:** By integrating philosophy, economics, sociology, and religious studies, learners gain a holistic perspective on China's modern transformations. - **Relevance to Contemporary Issues:** Understanding the historical underpinnings of modern Chinese values equips students for various careers in international relations, cultural studies, and global business. - **Flexible Learning:** Coursera’s platform allows students to navigate through modules at their own pace, making it convenient for busy professionals and students alike. **Recommendation:** I highly recommend "Structuring Values in Modern China" for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of China's rich cultural heritage and its modern-day implications. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply a curious learner, this course promises to provide valuable insights that are applicable across multiple fields, including sociology, anthropology, religious studies, and economics. Dive into this course to explore the intricate tapestry of values that define modern China!

Syllabus

Module 21 Religion and Modernity

This module explains how science, the market, and the nation became the new structuring values of the intellectual elite in the 20th century and how this led to the destruction of traditional religions; how these religions resisted and incorporated the new values.

This module introduces how the traditional Chinese vision of the role of government militated against the development of market-based economics, how the science of economics came into being in 20th century China and how this profoundly modified the practice of government and the way human subjectivity is understood.

We are going to learn the distinction between science and scientism, how scientism was used to justify the rejection of traditional religions, and how a more accurate assessment of the nature of science re-opens a space for more traditional moral and religious concerns.

This module is about the role of gender bias among the intellectual elite in the 20th century and how various religious traditions, by contrast, promoted women’s empowerment over against the “public patriarchy”.

This module presents how lay religious movements, especially spirit writing groups, responded to the crisis of Chinese society in the 19th and 20th centuries; how groups like the Yiguandao went from political repression to acceptance; and how charity in modern China is inseparable from the history of these lay organizations.

This module states the power of attraction of charismatic Protestantism today, especially for women, its primarily indigenous origins and its similarities with other forms of popular religion.

This module indicates the differences between Chinese and Western dualism and how they were impacted by their different writing systems; the meaning of the terms “patriarchal” and “humanistic” as applied to Chinese culture; how Chinese elite and popular culture were separated by a wide gap that has not yet been closed.