Islam as a Minority Religion in Chinese Secularity: An Introduction

Abstract: This special issue focuses on Muslim minorities in modern China through the lens of secularity. We use “secularity” as an analytical concept to refer to the idea that, in most modern societies, religion is understood as a distinct social sphere separate from other domains of societal life. Importantly, what counts as “religion” or “religious” in China is neither self-evident nor static; instead, it is contextually defined and negotiated, varying across different social settings. The contributions in this issue address this from a range of perspectives, exploring various configurations in which the distinction between religious and non-religious spheres influences both the relationship between Chinese Muslims and the state, as well as the dynamics within Muslim communities themselves.