The Development Trends of Folk Religion in Taiwan.

In this paper, we shall pay attention to a series of problems which concern the recent development trends of folk religion belief and activities in Taiwan. Three categories are divided: basic theological ideas, the management of temples, and the religion movement. In the first category, we shall notice some important problems. New gods and goddesses increase gradually. The spirit worship and the hero worship are the main factors which are dominating the occurrence of these new gods and goddesses. Although we know that Chinese would like to worship many gods and goddesses at a same time, it is true that the monotheism exist actually in Chinese society for a long time. This monotheism is not an exclusive monotheism, but a henotheism. The famous Eternal Mother belief is the best example of this henotheism. The belief of the Eternal Mother is very popular in modern Taiwan society. We can trace its history back to the Sixteenth century. On the other hand, a confused style of religious belief which mix with the Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, play an important role. It makes us deduce the distinctions between these religions and philosophies. Many famous temples put the gods of three religions together. In the second category, we shall discuss the management of the temples. Due to the lackness of temple's own properties, the contribution of the believers becomes the main source of the temple's income. How to attract a huge number of people to visit the temple? It is the major theme of the management of the temples. We select the Fo-kuang-shan-shih (...) as the best example for discussing the management problems. We also notice the pilgram activities in modern Taiwan. It is a combination of religious and travelling purposes. In the third part of this category we may notice the money income and the social philanthropies of the temples. In the third category, we shall notice three important trends in the religious-social aspect. The first, the spirit medium, or shaman, and his private chapel increase rapidly. Because it is a kind of folk medicine for releasing people's psychological anxiety in a serious competitive society. On the other hand, the utilitarianism is the basic philosophy of this religious behaviors. The second, the cultural and religious revital movement occur in the last decade. It is accompany with a rapid social change. People who leave their native homes to metropolitan for seeking jobs. They suffer isolate, unfamiliar and unfriendly, and heavy living pressure. Some people hope eagerly to touch again the life of country style, so that they participate different religious groups which stress the traditional way of life style, human relations, and mutual helpness. Under such a condition, some folk religious sects, such as I-kuan-tao (...), Ju-chung Sheng-chiao (...), Tse-hui-tang (...), etc., grow up very quickly. These sects are majorly branches of the Eternal Mother belief. Religion is a part of cultural and social system. It is influenced by other parts of the society. Chinese folk religion has no special doctrines and philosophy, it is confused with the Confucianism and the morality of daily life. When the changes occur in the daily life, the religion produce responses. In general, folk religion suggest and provide some methods and chances to release the anxieties which is accompany with the social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]