Social scientific study of Daoism: Relationships between religion and science in the interpretation of mysticism among Chinese Daoist monks and nuns
Summary: The aim of the project is to identify the various relationships between religion and science that are explicitly or implicitly present in the way Chinese Daoist monks and nuns describe and interpret their mystical experiences. With a mixed-methods design, the project will answer the following questions: What are the themes suggestive of a Daoist way of conceptualizing the relationship between religion and science How do religious and scientific worldviews engage and interact with each other in the meaning-making of Daoist mystical experiences The project is needed and contributes to social scientific study of religion in the following aspects: First, it examines the relationships between religion and science in a nonAbrahamic context, among Chinese Daoist monks and nuns. Second, it focuses on the context of mystical experiences, which represent unique stakes and difficulties (e.g., anomalous somatic and psychological experiences that are yet quintessential in accomplishing Daoist goals of nourishing life),