Wei Dedong
SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY RENMIN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA
Personal profile
Professor of Religious Studies
School of Philosophy
Renmin University of China
Beijing, 100872
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2002-Present Professor (since 2020) of Religious Studies, School of Philosophy,
Renmin University of China, Beijing
2016-2019 Adjunct Researcher of Department of East Asian Languages and
Cultures at Columbia University in the City of New York, USA
1997-2002 Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Institute of World Religions,
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing
1986-1991 Editor, Journal of Morality and Civilization ,
Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences, Tianjin
ACADEMIC DEGREES
1994-1997 Ph.D. in Chinese Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing
1991-1994 MA in Chinese Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing
1982-1986 BA in Philosophy, Nankai University, Tianjin
SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS
2024 to present. Dissertation committee member, Union Theological Seminary in
the City of New York, USA.
2022 to present. Chairman of committee, the Professional Committee of Public
Welfare Culture Promotion (Mind-nature Care) in China Life Care Association.
2011
to present. Co-Founder and Chair of International Forum of Buddhism.
2006 to present. Co-Founder and Chair of the Forum of Religion and Charity.
2004 to present. Co-founder and Chair for the Annual Conference of Social Science of
Religion in China.
1997 to present. Guest Professor for Chinese Academy of Buddhist, Beijing.
2004 to 2020. Co-founder and Chair for Sino-US-European Summer Institute for
the Scientific Study of Religion, RUC.
2007-2008. Postdoctoral Fellow at Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor
University, TX, USA.
2000. Guest Professor for Texas College of Buddhism, Houston, USA.
1999. Visiting scholar of American Council of Learned Societies, Department of Sociology, University of Houston, USA.
GRANTS RECEIVED
2023-2025. P.I.: “English translation of Fang Litian's Zhong Guo Fo Jiao Zhe Xue Yao Yi (Essentials of Chinese Buddhist Philosophy)”, Major Project of Humanities and Social Science Base of Ministry of Education, China (No. 22JJD730011).
2023-2025. P.I.: "Religion and Mind-nature Care", the International Center for
Buddhist Studies, Renmin University of China.
2012-2021. P.I.: “Chinese Religion Survey”, Renmin University of China.
2009-2012. P.I.: “Belief and Public Goods Supply in Rural China”, China’s National
Natural Science Foundation (No. 70973132).
2007. Consultant: “Religious Atlas of China.” Henry Luce Foundation.
2004. P.I.: “The Study of Yin Shun Thought”, Renmin University Youth Research
Grant.
2001. P.I.: “A Survey of GuangHua Temple in Beijing”, Institute of World religions,
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
2000. P.I.: “The Development of Buddhism Yogacara Thought in 20 Century China”,
Youth Research Grant in Chinese Academy of Social Science.
1999. Scholarship in American Council of Learned Societies.
COURSES TAUGHT
Sociology of Religion
Chinese Religion and Society in the 21st Century
Introduction to Yogacara Philosophy
PULICATIONS
Articles and Book Chapters in English
2021. “A Syncretic Innovation in Chinese Buddhism: Animal Release Rituals in New York City”, in Chinese Environmental Ethics: Religions, Ontologies, and Practice s, Edited by Mayfair Yang, ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD: 169-196.
2020. “Tzu Chi:The Emergence of an Innovative Chinese Buddhist Sect”, in The Buddhist Renaissance , Edited by Rey-sheng Her, Mutsu Hsu, and John Hoffmire, Rhythms Monthly—Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation:169-196.
2015.
_WEI Dedong and ZHONG Zhifeng: Sociology of Religion: A Rodney Stark Reader ,
Baylor University Press.
_WEI Dedong and ZHONG Zhifeng: Sociology of Religion: A David Martin Reader ,
Baylor University Press.
_ANDRE VAN DER BRAAK, WEI Dedong and ZHU Caifang: Religion and Social Cohesion: Western, Chinese, and Intercultural Perspectives , Amsterdam: UV University Press.
2014. “Subjective Consciousness: the Core Driving Force of Religious Charity”, CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA , Edited by Theresa C. Carino, Hong Kong by Amity Foundation: 83-94.
2013. Dedong WEI and Eric Liu: “Religious Involvement and Depression: Evidence for Curvilinear and Stress-Moderating Effects Among Young Women in Rural China”, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion , Summer 2013, Volume 52: 349-367.
2012. Eric Y. Liu, Harold G. Koenig, and Dedong WEI: “Discovering a Blissful Island: Religious Involvement and Happiness in Taiwan”, Sociology of Religion , Spring 2012, Volume 73:46-68.
2008. “The Cultural Experience of Chinese Buddhism Today”, Buddhism:
Introducing the Buddhist Experience (Donald W. Mitchell), New York: Oxford
University Press: 236-244.
2007. “The Social Science of Religion: Connotation and Value”, Journal of Renmin
University of China , Vol2, No.2: 93-103.
2005. “Buddhist Ecological Ideas and Practices”, Dharma World , Vol.32: 14-20.
2005. Fenggang YANG and Dedong WEI: “The Bailin Buddhist Temple: Thriving under Communism”, State, Market, and Religions in Chinese Societies , Edited by Fenggang Yang and Joseph B. Tamney, Brill, Leiden Boston: 63-86.
Books in Chinese
2015.
_ The Cultural Consciousness of Chinese Religion: Dedong Review of Religion III .
Beijing: the Ethnic Publishing House.
_ Desensitization of Religion in China: Dedong Review of Religion II.
Beijing: the Ethnic Publishing House.
_ Field Trip on World Religions: Dedong Review of R eligion I.
Beijing: the Ethnic Publishing House.
2014. Co-editor of Translation Series of Buddhism . Social Sciences Academic Press.
Co-editor of Meditation . Social Sciences Academic Press.
2013. Editor of Series of Spirituality and Society . Social Sciences Academic Press.
2012. Co-editor: Education, Religion, and Charity , Gansu Publishing House.
2009. Co-editor: A Retrospection and Expectation of the Faith-Based Social Service in China . Religious Culture Publishing House.
2008. Co-editor: Social Science of Religion . Chinese Social Sciences Press.
2001. The Essence of Buddhist Yogacara Philosophy , Gaoxiong: Fokuangshan Press.
2000. Co-author: Buddhist Study , Beijing: Dangdai Press.