Centre student Zihao He shares his reflections on the 2025 Yale-Edinburgh conference, held in São Paulo, Brazil, on the theme ‘Christianity, Democracy, and Nationalism’.
As a current PhD student at the Centre for the Study of World Christianity, I had the great privilege of attending this year’s Yale–Edinburgh Conference, held at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie in São Paulo, Brazil. The theme of this year’s gathering, ‘Christianity, Democracy, and Nationalism’, could not be more timely in our increasingly volatile world. It also closely resonates with my own research interests in Chinese pre-modern nationalism, Christianity, and the issue of violence. Significantly, I had the unique opportunity to witness a historical milestone: for the first time, this influential conference was held in the Global South.
What is the ‘Brazilian nation’? Before the trip, I imagined samba, Bossa nova, Carnival, the only Portuguese-speaking country in Latin America, lush forests and exotic animals, football—and Pelé. However, the conference and my experiences in Brazil revealed much more. In various sessions, we explored topics such as the role of Catholicism in shaping Brazilian national identity, the impact of the Bolsonaro administration, and the emergence of Christian nationalism. We examined similarities and contrasts between American evangelical nationalism and its Brazilian counterparts. Being in Brazil allowed us to engage deeply with contexts that are often mentioned only in passing in classrooms. Moreover, hosting the conference in Brazil enabled many local students and scholars to attend and participate. It was a privilege to hear their voices—their perspectives, research interests, and concerns. which enriched the dialogue immensely.
Conferences like Yale–Edinburgh are also about building connections and participating in a broader academic community. The event provided a valuable space to meet new scholars and reconnect with familiar colleagues. With over 70 papers presented, the conference struck a balance: broad enough to showcase diverse topics from around the world, yet intimate enough to foster meaningful conversations and networking. For myself, 7–8 scholars were working on topics related to Chinese and Sinophone Christianities. While I was learning from the local context of Christianity and nationalism in South America, I also had the chance to present my own work on Chinese pre-modern nationalism, which received thoughtful and constructive feedback.
As reflected in many of the presentations, nationalism is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It involves imagination and identity formation, distinguishing us from them, and spiritual or physical resistance to both real and perceived threats. We discussed its inherent tensions—between pacifism and violence, memory and history, community and exclusion. Christianity’s relationship with nationalism, too, is layered: competition, manipulation, co-optation, mutual reinforcement, and conflict. This year’s vibrant Yale–Edinburgh Conference once again challenged us to think globally about the intersections of nationalism and Christianity. True to the spirit of the field, we came together to reflect on diverse local expressions of Christian faith, while also grappling with their relationships to shared global experiences—from the nation-state to what lies beyond.
