معرفی
Rongdao Lai serves as Associate Professor of Chinese Religions (Buddhism) with a joint appointment between the Department of Religious Studies and Department of East Asian Studies in McGill University's Faculty of Arts, based at 3520 University Street, Room 007, Montreal.
His academic credentials include:
- M.A. from Queen's University
- Ph.D. from McGill University
Dr. Lai's research centers on Modern Chinese Buddhism's institutional dynamics, examining state-religion interactions, Buddhist educational systems, transnational networks, and religion's role in social activism across Asia. His work analyzes how Buddhist organizations navigate political frameworks while engaging in educational and welfare initiatives within contemporary Chinese contexts.
He instructs undergraduate courses including RELG 337: Themes in Buddhist Studies (Winter 2026), analyzing primary Buddhist texts through historical and methodological lenses, and RELG 354: Chinese Religions (Fall 2025), exploring ancestor worship, deity veneration, and ritual practices across the Chinese cultural sphere. His teaching integrates textual analysis with contemporary theoretical approaches to religious studies.
