Catholic Studies in Asia: State of the Field

Roundtable Convenor(s)

• MC

  Michel Chambon

  National University of Singapore, Singapore

Roundtable Participant(s)

• MC

  Michel Chambon

  National University of Singapore, Singapore
• BA

  Bubbles Beverly Asor

  University of the Philippines - Diliman, Philippines
• MT

  Mark Tallara

  De La Salle University, Philippines
• FP

  Finsensius Purnama

  Widya Mandala Catholic University, Indonesia
• 

  Erica Larson

  Asia Research Institute - National University of Singapore, Singapore

Roundtable Abstract:

At 1.3 billion, the population of Catholics around the world is almost as large as the population of contemporary India or China. Furthermore, the Catholic Church interacts with many more people than its members. In Asia like elsewhere, Catholic schools, hospitals, diplomatic delegations, and NGOs influence the life of numerous non-Christians. Present in every single country, Catholicism remains one of the largest and most complex social actors of our contemporary world. 
Yet, scholarly interest and research programs about world Catholicism remain rather limited - especially in Asia. While many factors explain this situation, secular biases continue to affect the ways in which religion—and Catholicism especially—is integrated in research on and analyses of contemporary societies. This roundtable discusses the rise of Catholic Studies across academia. With special attention to Asia, it focuses on the challenges that this emerging field of research faces in the region, as well as on the opportunities Asian societies and political systems provide to enrich this conversation.