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CSCS-ASPR Conference 2025: Challenges to Religious Worldviews: East-West Dialogue

13-08-2025

Jointly organized by the Centre for Sino-Christian Studies (CSCS) and the Asian Society for Philosophy of Religion (ASPR), the CSCS 2nd International Conference on Philosophy of Religion cum Inaugural Conference of the ASPR, themed “Challenges to Religious Worldviews: East-West Dialogue” has concluded successfully with great enthusiasm on 13-15 August 2025. The conference aimed to address pressing philosophical and social questions confronting religious worldviews today.

The event has brought together esteemed scholars around the globe, drawing insights from both contemporary analytical philosophy and the rich cultural and religious traditions of Asia. With a focus on fostering academic reflection and exchange, the conference aimed to make a unique contribution to the global philosophy of religion.

Featuring three distinguished keynote speakers, including Prof. Dean Zimmerman (Rutgers University), Prof. Yong Huang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Prof. Eleonore Stump (St. Louis University), the conference also showcased the perspectives of 30 speakers with diverse philosophical and religious backgrounds from across Asia and beyond.

The conference witnessed a vibrant turnout, with over 70 attendees in person and more than 200 participants engaging online. The discussions and dialogues that unfolded over the three days underscored the importance of cross-cultural exchange and scholarly collaboration in addressing the complex challenges facing religious worldviews in our contemporary world.

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Opening ceremony: honorable guests and speakers taking group photos. Front row, from the left: Dr. Tien-Chun Lo (CUHK; Secretary, ASPR), Prof. Yong Huang (CUHK; Keynote Speaker), Prof. Dean Zimmerman (Rutgers University; Keynote Speaker), Prof. Kai-Man Kwan (Director, CSCS; President, ASPR), Prof. Andrew Loke (Research fellow, CSCS; Vice-President, ASPR), Dr. Lok Chi Chan (National Taiwan University, Vice-President, ASPR)
Dr. Michael Longnecker (Zhongnan University of Economics and Law) sharing his thoughts in the Q&A session of Session 2. Next to Dr. Longnecker: Dr. Lok-Chi Chan from the National Taiwan University.
Ms. Shreyoshi Ghoshray, Research Associate of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies USA, presenting her paper in Session 8. Next to Ms. Ghoshray: Mr. Joshua Yen from the University of Oxford.
Prof. David Kwon (Seattle University) answering questions from the floor after his presentation in Session 5. From left to right, Dr. Michael Longnecker, Dr. Jenny Hung (HKUST), Prof. David Kwon and Prof. Kevin Turner (Chairperson of Session 5).
Prof. Zean Zimmerman in Keynote Session 1 (13 August 2025), sharing on the topic “The Fundamentality of the Mental and the Afterlife”.
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