Erin Cline
Professor Cline specializes in Chinese philosophy, Chinese religions, and comparative philosophy and theology.
The author of five books, she is especially interested in how the virtues, values, and rituals that classical Chinese philosophers emphasized can help us to live better lives today. Her latest book, The Analects: A Guide (Oxford University Press, 2021), offers an argument that the Confucian Analectsis a sacred text, exploring its often-neglected religious and spiritual dimensions. Her last book, Little Sprouts and the Dao of Parenting: Ancient Chinese Philosophy and the Art of Raising Mindful, Resilient, and Compassionate Kids (W.W. Norton, 2020), shows how the wisdom of Chinese philosophy can enrich the lives of families today in a variety of surprising ways. Inspired by her own experiences as the mother of three children, the book explores wide-ranging topics, from the role of daily rituals and mindfulness practices to ways of nurturing a love of nature and a love of learning, to how we respond to disabilities and challenges. Professor Cline recently completed a new translation of the Confucian Analects (under contract with W.W. Norton).
In addition to her work in the field of Chinese philosophy, Prof. Cline also works on Ignatian spirituality in relation to different religious and cultural traditions; her book, A World on Fire: Sharing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises with Other Religions(The Catholic University of America Press, 2018), puts the Ignatian tradition into conversation with Asian traditions (including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism), showing how and why the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises—though they are rooted in the Christian tradition—might be adapted for people from traditions other than Christianity who are interested in Ignatian spirituality.