The Center on Religion and Chinese Society at Purdue has been established to advance the social scientific study of religion in Chinese societies and among the Chinese in diasporas. Both of the words “Chinese” and “religion” are inclusive here. We are interested in all religions and spiritualities practiced by the Chinese anywhere in the world, and being Chinese in the global era means being cosmopolitan and going beyond existing boundaries. We hope that our research projects and scholarly exchanges will help to deepen scholarly understanding of Chinese religions, and will enhance mutual understanding of Chinese and American peoples. We would like the CRCS to become a bridge – a bridge between scholars at Purdue and scholars in other parts of the United States, a bridge between Chinese and American scholars across the Pacific, and a bridge between scholars and the public through media, symposia, lectures, and publications. We hope CRCS will serve the scholarly community of Chinese religions in the global village.