On April 21, 2018, a symposium titled "The Role Evolution of Religious Organizations amid Globalization" kicked off in Nanjing.
Sponsored by the Juhui Institute for Social Organization Development, more than 20 social science scholars, religious figures, religious entrepreneurs, and media outlets discussed four topics: "See the Function of Religion based on Global Experiences", "The Transition Role of Christian (Catholic) Groups", "The Transition Role of Buddhist and Taoist Groups ", and "The Role of Faith in Organization Development".
Professor Zhao Xingguang from Taiwan Tunghai University recalled the religious atmosphere in Taiwan in the document on social changes in Taiwan in the last three decades. He stated that a forecast that with the completion of urbanization, the popularization of civic education, and the development of technology the number of religious people would sharply decrease proved to be wrong. There was not a remarkable change in the overall religious atmosphere in Taiwan. However, religious groups needed to retain members and attract new ones in the context of the conversion of the role of religions caused by urbanization, rural to urban migration, and family structural changes.
Priest Zhang Shijiang, founder of Faith Weekly Agency, gave a speech titled "The Conscious Awakening from Religions amid Globalization". He said that there were main approaches of church social service that acted as servants and prophets.
Priest Bo Hanxi from the Shanghai Catholic German Group stated that different religious communities and people who hold different worldviews can discuss "the theology of the Silk Road" that could be considered a platform of communication for thought and religion.
- Translated by Karen Luo
