中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所是中国唯一的国家级宗教学术研究专门机构。它的宗旨是:运用科学的立场、观点、方法并积极吸收和借鉴古今中外一切有关的学术成果,对宗教学基础理论和世界范围内包括中国本土各种宗教的教义、经典、历史、现状以及宗教与中国传统文化的关系进行多视角、多方位的研究,以增进对人类观念形态和社会文化发展的整体认识,加强对世界面貌和中国国情的全面了解,为国家现代化和社会精神文明建设服务。
中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所成立于1964年,经过多年来的发展和调整,截止到2008年6月，有在职人员78人,其中研究员20人,副研究员24人,助理研究员22人。设有佛教研究室、基督教研究室、伊斯兰教研究室、道教和中国民间宗教研究室、儒教研究室、宗教学理论研究室、当代宗教研究室、宗教文化艺术研究室、编辑室(《世界宗教研究》杂志社)、资料室、科研处、办公室等科研及管理部门。
本所管理6个非实体研究中心，即：中国社会科学院基督教研究中心、佛教研究中心、道家与道教文化研究中心、邪教问题研究中心；中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所儒教研究中心、巴哈伊教研究中心。
中国宗教学会作为中国宗教学术研究的群众团体,会址设于中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所。
中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所坚持实事求是的科学态度,实行学术民主,尊重独立探索。同时,认真组织和鼓励研究人员承担具有重要学术价值和现实意义的各级重点课题,现已完成和正在进行的课题项目有200多个。其中《中华大藏经》(汉文部分)和《宗教学通论》等多项成果荣获国家图书奖和中国社会科学院优秀成果奖。截止2007年底,已出版专著类图书500余部,发表论文2000余篇。此外还有译著、译文、工具书、古籍整理等方面的大量学术成果。
《世界宗教研究》和《世界宗教文化》是本所主办的季刊。《世界宗教研究》创刊于1979年,主要登载国内外学者的学术论文,介绍国内外宗教学研究动态和重要资料。《世界宗教文化》(原《世界宗教资料》,1980-1994年)侧重宗教文化主题。兼顾学术探讨与知识普及。两刊均由《世界宗教研究》杂志社出版,向国内外发行。本所还主编《中国宗教研究年鉴》和《中国宗教学》。
中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所担负着为国家培养高层次宗教学术研究人材的责任。全所现有在职博士生导师9人,硕士生导师22人。1979-2008年共计招收、培养博士生74名,硕士生92名。本所研究人员还经常应邀到国内大学及相关机构进行专题讲学。
中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所重视同国内外学术界同仁及一切关心宗教研究事业的人士在相互尊重、互利友好的基础上建立良好的交流、合作关系。作为国际交流的重要方式之一,从1982年开始,已向北美、欧洲、亚洲、非洲等地派出相当数量的访问学者。同时每年都要接待上百名外国和香港、澳门、台湾地区学者及宗教人士来所访问或进修。此外,由本所主办或参与组织的国内外学术会议也逐年增多。中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所向国内外的客人、朋友们敞开着大门。
中国社会科学院世界宗教研究所现任
所 长: 卓新平(研究员)
副所长: 曹中建(副研究员)
金 泽（研究员）
地 址: 北京建国门内大街5号
邮政编码: 100732
电 话: (010)65138521(科研处)
(010)65138329(办公室)
传 真: (010)65221532
电子邮箱：kyc-zjs@cass.org.cn
INSTITUTE OF WORLD RELIGIONS
CHINESE
ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
As the only nation-wide centre for academic research of religion, the Institute of World Religions (IWR) devotes itself to the multe-dimensional studies of the doctrines, history and present situation of the major religions in the world, so as to enhance an overall understanding of the human ideas and cultural traditions, and render service in a broad way to the national modernizations and to the building up of the spiritual civilization of Chinese society.
With a moderest start in 1964, IWR has witnessed a rapid growing in size through protracted efforts ever since its founding, which has at the present a membership of 78. Among them are 20 professors, 24 associate professors and 22 assistant professors.
ACADEMIC DIVISIONS
* Department of Buddhist Studies
* Department of Christian Studies
* Department of Islamic Studies
* Department of Studies of Taoism and Folk-religious
* Department of Confucian Studies
* Department of General Theory of Religion
* Department of Contemporary Religious Studies
* Department of Religious Culture and Art Studies
* Publishing House of Journals in Studies on World Religions
IWR also functions as coordinator for religious studies at the national level. This role is seen by the fact that the institute also serves as site of the Chinese Association of Religious Studies (CARS) and that IWR director is at the same time chairman of CARS.
RESEARCH CENTRES
* Centre for the Studies of Christianity, CASS
* Centre for the Studies of Buddhism, CASS
* Centre for the Studies of Taoism, CASS
* Centre for the Studies of Cults, CASS
* Centre for the Studies of Confucianism, IWR
* Centre for the Studies of Bahai Faith, IWR
ACADEMIC RESULTS
IWR adheres to the attitude of seeking truth from facts, practises academic democracy and respect independent spirit by individual scholars in scientific research. It also organizes and encourages its members to undertake projects of important academic values and of present significances sponsored or designed by the academic bodies at different levels, of which almost 200 projects have been undertaken or completed. Among them many works such as The Great Tripitaka of China (Chinese Texts) and A Comprehensive Discussion of Religious Studies have been awarded prizes for their excellencies. By 2007 IWR has published almost 500 books as well as more than 2000 papers and articles, apart from translation works, reference books and collection of academic materials that are very big in quantity.
JOURNALS
IWR has two journals. Created in 1979, Studies on World Religions publishes academic papers and thesis by authors at home and from abroad, introducing trends and information in religious studies both at home and in other parts of the world . World Religious Culture (the former Material on World Religions, 1980 -1994) focuses its attention on the dimension of religious culture with equal coverage of academic discussion and basic knowledge. Both of the quarterly are published and distributed by Publishing House of Journals in Studies on World Religions. IWR publishes also Yearbook of Religious Studies in China and Chinese Religious Studies.
POST –GRADUATE PROGRAMMES
IWR offers the training of high-level research personnel for religious studies. Among its staff members are 9 doctor tutors and 22 master tutors who give lectures and instructions to the students in the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. They have accepted since 1979 74 students reading for doctorate and 92 students for master degree. IWR scholars often give lectures on religious topics at the invitation to students in other colleges and universities in Beijing.
OPENING TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
IWR pays great attention to making exchange and co-operations with overseas academic bodies and individual scholars sharing similar interest in religious studies. It has sent since 1982 a number of its scholars to countries of North America, Europe, Asia and Africa to do research or graduate studies, and at the same time the institute has received each year a hundred of guest scholars from foreign countries and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. IWR has sponsored or participated in over the past years a number of international academic conferences and seminars on religion and has benefited a lot from such activities. IWR welcomes with openarms all guests, scholars and friends throughout the world.
HEADS AND ADDRESS
Director: Professor Zhuo Xinping
Deputy Directors:
Associate Professor Cao Zhongjian
Professor Jin Ze
Address: Institute of World Religions
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
5 Jianguomennei Street
Beijing 100732, P. R. China
Tel: 8610—65138521
8610—65138329
Fax: 8610—65221532
E-mail: kyc-zjs@cass.org.cn
