"This is a masterful work, by a scholar with the rare ability to handle sources in both Russian and Chinese, that sheds much light on theoretical debates surrounding religion and modernity, secularization, and desecularization. But it is much more than that; it is also an inspiring story of human resilience in the face of oppression." Peter L. Berger, University Professor Emeritus, Boston University, USA

"Lucidly and engagingly written, Christopher Marsh's book is a landmark contribution to the growing literature on secularization and desecularization in the modern world. Marsh detects and theorizes the patterns of religion's suppression, resilience and resurgence by comparatively exploring the cases of Russia and China. An outstanding expert on both, Marsh aptly utilizes his thorough knowledge of the two cases and his fluency in both languages to present to his readers a convincing, empirically grounded yet theoretically consequential account of the stunning resilience of faith under the ruthlessly oppressive atheist regimes, and of its ongoing spectacular revival." Vyacheslav Karpov, Western Michigan University, USA

Religion and the State in Russia and China explores the religious nature of man through the cases of forced secularization in the Soviet Union and China, providing an in-depth account of the failure and successes of both countries' secularization policies. The research for this project includes extensive fieldwork in both Russia and China, including survey research, ethno-graphic fieldwork, and interviews with scholars, believers/non-believers, and relevant political figures.

Religion and the State in Russia and China offers original research for in-depth survey that will interest anyone studying politics and religion, religion policy, and theories of religion.