On November 22, a Symposium on "Qilu Culture and Sinicization of Religion" was held in Jinan, sponsored by the Institute of Contemporary Religion of Shandong Academy of Social Sciences and the Research Base of Contemporary Religion in Shandong Province. More than 40 experts and scholars from Peking University, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shandong University, Shandong Normal University, Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, and other universities and research institutions have conducted in-depth discussions on issues related to Qilu culture and Sinicization of Religion.

Before the seminar, President Zhang Shucun of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences met with Professor Zhang Zhigang, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Religions, Dean of the Institute of Religious Culture of Peking University, and Prof. Zhou Guangrong, Associate Editor of the World Religious Culture of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. President Zhang welcomed the arrival of the experts and briefly introduced the overall situation of the implementation of innovative projects by the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences and the orientation and planning of the development of the Institute of Contemporary Religions. He hoped that experts could provide more guidance and help to promote the development of contemporary religious disciplines and scientific research in Shandong Academy of Social Sciences.

Zhang Fenglian, director of the Scientific Research Organization Department of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, Gao Ming, member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong CPPCC and chairman of the Provincial Christian Self-patriotic Movement Committee, delivered speeches. Zhang Jin, deputy director of the Institute of Contemporary Religions of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, presided over the meeting. Professor Zhang Zhigang, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Religions and Dean of the Institute of Religious Culture of Peking University; Researcher Tan Degui, Institute of World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Researcher Zhou Guangrong, deputy editor of World Religious Culture, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Zhang Jin, deputy director of the Institute of Contemporary Religions of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, gave keynote speeches. A dozen other experts and scholars also made wonderful speeches around the theme.

Zhang Zhigang, Dean of the Institute of Religious Culture of Peking University, pointed out in his speech that the overall judgment of the present situation of Chinese religion must be based on the current situation of China, especially the great changes that have taken place in Chinese society since the reform and opening-up, using the viewpoints, theories and methods of historical materialism and dialectical materialism. Judging from the current situation of China and the mainstream, essence and trend of Chinese religion, China's major religions and their majority of believers are patriotic. They are willing to work with the people of the whole country to build a beautiful motherland with the belief they pursue. They can make positive contributions in economic development, cultural prosperity, social services, charity, especially moral and ethical construction. We cannot deny that there are still many problems in the religious field in China. When talking about the study of Marxist view of religion, Professor Zhang Zhigang pointed out that the study of Marxist view of religion urgently needs to realize two changes in academic concept, that is, from "focusing on word-by-word interpretation" to "focusing on Inheritance and development of methodological concepts", from "critical research tendencies and  conclusions" to "constructive research orientations and conclusions."

Professor Hu Weiqing, School of History and Culture, Shandong University, made a speech on the Sinicization of Christianity. He pointed out that the Sinicization of Christianity includes several aspects: From a political perspective, Christian believers must be patriotic and love religion; from a cultural perspective, Christianity should be integrated into China's mainstream culture and advanced culture; from a social perspective, Christianity must be compatible with socialist society, such as practicing the core socialist values and undertaking social charity and public welfare. Taking Shandong as an example, he elaborated on the development of the Sinicization of Christianity in Shandong, emphasized that we should inherit and carry forward its fine traditions and promote the development of the Sinicization of religion.

Zhou Guangrong, a researcher at the Institute of World Religions of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, elaborated on the development of Chinese religion and the history of its religious studies. He took the magazine World Religious Culture as an example. It was founded in 1980 and was called World Religious Materials. In 1995, it was renamed World Religious Culture. In the 38-year history of running magazines, magazines have undergone four transformations, and the contents and styles of magazines have changed markedly, which reflects the development of religion, religious policy and religious research in China. Professor Ge Zhaoguang of Fudan University has divided the study of Chinese religious history in the twentieth century into four stages: the research stage of philology and history (before 1950), the research stage of philosophy history (before the 1980s), and the research stage of social and cultural history (1980s), and the transformation of religious history research. The four transformations of World Religious Culture generally conform to Professor Ge Zhaoguang's division of the research stage of religious history.

Zhang Jin, deputy director of the Institute of Contemporary Religion, Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, made a systematic exposition on the relationship between Qilu culture and the Sinicization of religion. He believes that adhering to the  orientation of Sinicization of Christianity is not only the ardent expectation of the party and the government, but also the objective requirement for the healthy development of each religion in China. Shandong is the hometown of Confucius and Mencius and the old land of Qilu. It has a strong Confucian culture atmosphere.In history, Qilu culture has adopted an tolerant attitude towards many foreign cultures and foreign religions. This not only provides a good reference for the Sinicization and localization of religion, but also provides good conditions and extensive development space. We should use socialist core values to guide religious believers, explore the rich connotations of Qilu culture, carry forward the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, interpret the religious doctrines to conform to the development and progress of contemporary China and the excellent traditional culture of China, promote the integration of religious traditions and Chinese culture, and promote the Sinicization of religion in the new era.

The participating experts and scholars spoke freely and discussed in depth the issues concerning the development of Qilu culture, Shandong religion and its development of Sinicization.