wfn.org | Taiwan's Grassroots Culture vs. Christian Faith

[Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2645, November 10, 2002
Reported by Gu Hao-ran. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the introduction of
Protestant Christianity into Northern Taiwan three Presbyterian
institutions in the region will hold a seminar on faith and
culture on November 16th.  The Northern Synod of the Presbyterian
Church in Taiwan, Aletheia University and the Taiwan Church Press
will present papers and hold discussions on the relationship
between Christian faith and Taiwan's Culture. These will include
the practices of ancestor veneration and the forms of Christian
worship. Scholars have been invited to help in the discussions of
the dialectical relationships between what appear to be
polarities.
   Dr. Tsai Wei-min, associate professor of Religion at Aletheia,
said, "Christian Faith was spread to Taiwan from Europe and the
Americas over a hundred years ago.  It has become intimately
intertwined with Taiwan's historical development, but its
"foreignness" stands over against local culture. Up to now the
church has not probed this very deeply."
  Professors Chen Chi-rong and Wang Jing-ling, also of Aletheia
University, will present papers on Religion and Culture, and
Ancestor Veneration Practices.	It is hoped that consideration of
religion as a cultural phenomenon will help Christians to reflect
on their long term relationship to local cultural mores and move
towards dialogue. The paper on ancestor veneration practices will
analyze the close-knit cultural milieu into which Christianity
has come in a very tradition bound form.  A further paper on
worship practices asks what can and cannot be adapted for
Christianity from local habits.
   Several local clergy and scholars will respond to the papers
and be part of the discussions.

For more information: Aletheia University: www.au.edu.tw
		  Northern Synod  TEL +886 02 2260 2861
		  Taiwan Church Press:	www.pctpress.com.tw

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