wfn.org | Religions are at Odds during Taiwan's Marching Season

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Taiwan Church News 2618, May 5, 2002

Reported by Lin Yi-ying, written by David Alexander
      Roman Catholic Churches have been present in Taiwan since
the early 19th century. Protestant's set up in 1865.  By 1886
there were dozen's of churches and the beginning of theological
education.  Protestants began a publishing house that year. The
first issue of its newspaper carried an article satirizing the
Matsu Cult.  The Rev. Chuang Chia-cheng, keynote speaker at an
ecumenical conference late in April, said that attitudes and
actions have not changed much in 140 years.
    Millions of Taiwan's people claim adherence to one or more of
the world's major religions. Taoist and Buddhist temples and
study centers are everywhere. Protestant and Catholic churches
are common.  But most people adhere to Taiwan's folk religions,
in which gods, ghosts and ancestors all play important roles.
    The ancestors of all Taiwan's residents (other than the
Aborigines and foreigners) came from China across the Taiwan
Straits, most during the days of sail.  They worshipped the
goddess Matsu, who with her entourage oversees people who earn
their livelihood from the sea.  The cult of Matsu remains strong
in Taiwan's coastal cities today.  During the spring her festival
is celebrated with parades, sacrifices and banquets.
   In some locales the Matsu processions are met by groups of
Protestant's engaging in counter demonstrations under the guise
of prayer rallies.  Some have begun to engage in "anointings" of
temple courtyards and church steps as an act of "spiritual
defense" in advance of a parade.  Rev. Chuang told the
Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Evangelicals who
joined the conference; "We cannot simply look at this in terms of
Spiritual Struggle.  The Matsu cult has deep roots in these
communities, in local politics and even in the criminal
underworld.  Meeting a procession with a prayer rally or by
anointing the ground only stirs opposition and sets up barriers
to the gospel we want to live."
    The 1886 article noted that on one Matsu procession, her
effigy had fallen off its Palanquin and into a pool of water.
The foreign writer suggested that either she had fallen asleep or
decided to get a drink. The dismissive tone, Chuang suggested,
was one of "getting even with a rival religion."  He added, "More
than 100 years later, churches in Taiwan are still meeting Matsu
the same way."
    "In Imperial times (before 1911) local religions were used by
the Chinese government for its own regional agendas.  The Matsu
cult was not immune to this manipulation.  Recently in Taiwan we
have seen the Communist Chinese Government endorsing the visit of
Matsu effigies from China to Taiwan, to carry out grass roots
diplomacy that bypasses our government's official channels."
    "The Matsu cult," he said, "has changed a lot in recent
decades.  Its presence is pervasive.  There are CD's, VCD's,
commemorative coins, postage stamps, festivals, movies and a lot
more than temples.  Christians must update our understandings and
our responses. We must not continue to dismiss the Matsu cult as
idolatry and meet it with the tactics of Spiritual Warfare alone.
We must understand the cult's background if we are to engage in
any focused way with its adherents."
    While Matsu moves on, the church remains as it was in the 19th
century.  Prayer marches, rallies and anointings do not draw
people to Christ. Instead, these activities engender avoidance.
    Chuang cited Wang Yin-kuei, who once headed the board of the
Matsu temple in Pei-kang.  When he was 90 years old he turned to
faith in Christ and was baptized. "He did not come to Christian
faith because someone anointed his temple but because of personal
concern and care given by Christians."
    Recently the choir of a church in Taichung County joined
celebrations at a local temple, presenting a Christian hymn.
Chuang pointed to this as the kind of activity that starts
relationships wherein the Gospel can be presented, and urged
participating clergy to aim their congregations in this
direction.

For More Information: Rev. Chuang Chia-cheng.
                   TEL: +886 2 2899 1743
                   242 Taipei County
                   Sin Chuang City
                   Chung-kang Road#345, 4F

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