Professor Cline specializes in Chinese philosophy, Chinese religions, and comparative philosophy and theology. The author of seven books, she is especially interested in how the virtues, values, and rituals that classical Chinese philosophers discussed can help us to live better lives today. Her new book, The Problem of God: The Challenges of Faith, Religion, and Spirituality Today (Georgetown University Press, March 2026), offers readers from all walks of life the chance to explore the big questions about life and faith, drawing on her work teaching Georgetown's iconic introductory theology course over the last seventeen years to an increasingly diverse student body. Her other new release is The Analects: A Contemporary Translation (Liveright, Feb. 2026), a new translation which dismantles patriarchal misinterpretations of one of the most influential texts in human history, and reorganizes the teachings of Kongzi (Confucius) thematically in order to make them accessible readers around the world today.
Professor Cline's new translation follows her recent work, The Analects: A Guide (Oxford University Press, 2021), which offers an argument that the Confucian Analects is a sacred text, exploring its often-neglected religious and spiritual dimensions. Professor Cline has also written for a broader audience of readers interested in how Chinese philosophy might help us in a variety of contemporary endeavors. Her 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.
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.
Academic Appointment(s)
- Primary
- Professor, College - Department of Theology and Religious Studies