The spiritual belief and cultural life of Chinese in a secular society

Swept up in the intense development of market economy and extensive globalization, China became a secular society. Materialism has been the ideology of daily life since the mid-1990s. While material consumerism shrouds the market, it also reshapes the populace. Individuals in contemporary China acquire a very clear concept of individual rights. However, the absence of public life leads to the individuals' self-centredness, without the sense of public obligation and responsibility. In this materialistic era, cultural and spiritual life has been veered towards secularization; traditional elite culture was replaced by mass and popular culture. Society is experiencing identity crisis. There is no consensus of common values and ethical standards. Relativism, utilitarianism and nihilism has been increasingly widespread.