中国宗教版图在毛泽东逝世后历经剧变——基督新教的快速崛起、天主教的困境、民间信仰的复兴、佛教的复杂互动，以及新兴宗教未竟的潜能。

社会学家 孙雁菲 以二十年研究成果，结合民族志、历史与比较方法，深度解析：

• 为何有些宗教能在后毛泽东时期蓬勃发展，而另一些却举步维艰？

• 内部制度因素与外部社会政治环境如何影响宗教命运？

• 此研究框架如何成为观察全球宗教变迁的关键视角？

本书不仅揭示中国当代宗教的多元面貌，更为宗教研究、社会学与中国研究领域提供全新洞见。

作者 ｜孙雁菲 是浙江大学社会学副教授。

"This is an extraordinary book, indeed an instant classic based on years of fieldwork: it unravels key puzzles in China’s religious ecology -- the success of protestantism compared to the lackluster performance of Roman Catholicism, the limits of the revival of traditional cults compared to the power of new religious movements, and much more--by setting the institutional features of different religions within the frame of the social and political contexts within which they operate. Sun's claim to have offered a new sociology of religion is wholly justified." -- John A. Hall, Emeritus James McGill Professor of Sociology, McGill University

"Quite frankly, this is the best book on the sociology of religion in China to have ever been published. It marks the coming of age of the field: after two decades of research and discussions by scholars, for the first time a theory has been built that is fully adapted to the Chinese reality and fits historical and contemporary cases as well as all different types of religion, and explains all the puzzles. Not only that, it is a universally valid contribution to the sociology of religion in general, which will generate many fruits in application to all parts of the world." -- David A. Palmer, The University of Hong Kong

"Yanfei Sun has given us a brilliant account of the transformation of the entire Chinese religious landscape after Mao. Within one coherent sociological framework, she examines both the institutional structure of Chinese religions and the changing socio-political environment in which they operate. This impressive book has all the makings of a modern sociological classic. For anyone who wants to understand Chinese society today this is required reading." -- Peter van der Veer, author of 'The Modern Spirit of Asia: The Spiritual and the Secular in China and India'

"Based on over ten years of research, including some of the best ethnographic fieldwork I have seen done in China, this book takes a comprehensive view of the whole range of contemporary Chinese practices. It is a magnum opus, a landmark study that will be a foundation for the study of Chinese religions and the sociology of religion in general for generations to come. Since its theoretical approach brings the study of religion squarely into the center of modern sociology, it has wide relevance outside of the sociology of religion." -- Richard Madsen, Distinguished Professor of Sociology Emeritus, University of California, San Diego