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The impact of religion on society. The example of Taiwan.
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“religion matters”(the case of Taiwan)
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said:
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. Acts 17:22-23
10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11"I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;…” Matthew 8:10 -11
We stayed here
Looking out the window
Looking down the street to Taipei 101
Taoism 8 Million and 18,274 TemplesBuddhism 8 Million and 4006 Templesmixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Taiwanese are very Religious
Taiwanese are very Religious
Taiwanese are very Religious
Longshan Temple, mixture of Taoism and Buddhism
Taiwanese are very Religious
Longshan Temple
Taiwanese are very Religious
Longshan Temple
Zhinan Temple
Zhinan Temple
Zhinan Temple
Zhinan Temple
Baoan Temple, Taoist
Baoan Temple
Baoan Temple
Confucius Temple
Confucius Temple
Taiwanese religions are syncretic - the people see no conflict being
- - Taoist, - Confucian, - Buddhist at the same time,
- & practicing ancestor veneration and divination
What do these religions in Taiwan teach?
What are the ethical teachings that have such an impact on peoples
positive behavior in Taiwan
Li --> Rules, ritual decorum Ren --> humaneness, benevolence,
humanity Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy
Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.
Yi --> Righteousness Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your
elders!) Learning
Buddhism is based on the Four Noble
Truths.
3. The way to eliminate suffering is to eliminate desire.4. Following the Eightfold path will help people to overcome desire.
1. All life is suffering.2. Suffering is caused by desire for things that are illusions.
Eightfold Path
Seek harmony and unity between complimentary opposites Yin- passive and Yang =ctive
Humility and noncompetition
Naturalness
Nonaggression and passive rule
Lao Tzu
Daoism–Taoism
Outside the National Theater in Taipei
Falun Gong
http://www.faluninfo.net/gallery/8/
A blend of Taoism, Buddhism, popular religions
Beliefs: the cultivation of vital energies through truthfulness, compassion, tolerance, and physical exercises
Falun Gong
Researchers in the United States have shown that the religious believes held by a large number of the population
reduce corruption increases respect for law boost overall economic growth
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/15/the_curious_economic_effects_of_religion/
promote social stability promote ethical behavior lower crime
“religion (any) matters”
Religions shape Societies and the Behaviors
Respect for Elders, dark blue seats for seniors
Little theft and respect for the property of others
No cheating (by taxi drivers etc)
Diverse views coexisting relatively peaceful
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2010/09/14/272459/14-Chinese.htm
Helpfulness to strangers
No one gets angry if someone is moved at the
head of the line
Respect for naturalness OR training
ConfuciusLao-Tzu
Always Safe
Safety Index(100 is very safe)
United States
49.84
Taiwan
78.56 http://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp
Crime Index
United States
50.16
Taiwanhttp://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp
21.44
Very Little Crime
Fourth Grade, 20114th in Mathematics and Science9th in Reading
https://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/category/education/
The ranking they give Taiwan’s education is 4th
British think-tank, Legatum Institute
“Students graduating from the Taiwanese education system do
so with some of the highest scores in the world on comparative international tests, especially in more technical fields such as mathematics and science. “ Drawing inspiration from Confucianism.
http://wenr.wes.org/2010/05/wenr-may-2010-feature/
Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study 2007
Learning
Peaceful coexistence of Daoism and Confucianism
“Recent studies of Chinese in …Taiwan,……… indicate that most drink in moderation, many choose not to drink and very few experience any drinking problem”
David J. Hanson, Preventing Alcohol Abuse: Alcohol, Culture, and Control, p. 44
Moderate Drinking, very little alcohol abuse
“…religious practices not only function for supernatural meaning, for acquiring blessing and protection from the deities or the dead, they also help maintain family stability and harmony” p. 5Jiexia Zhai , Religion, Gender, and Family Relations in Taiwan, p.5
Experts estimate that about 25 percent to 30 percent of marriages in Taiwan end in divorce.
http://www.international-divorce.com/Taiwan:-Divorce-Rate-Rises
40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce
http://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/
Family Stability and Divorce
Taiwan, not yet fully living up to its beliefs, but closer to it then most countries
“religion (DOES) matters”Religious believes held by a large number of the population does
reduce corruption increases respect for law boost overall economic growth
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/15/the_curious_economic_effects_of_religion/
promote social stability promote ethical behavior encourage learning lower crime
and may lead non-Christians into God’s Kingdom
Matthew 8:10 -11
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