The Transformation of Malice and Taboo in the Taiwanese Folk Belief through the Christian Ritual

• Main Authors: Hao Lun Kao, 高浩倫
• Other Authors: Stephen Liao, D. Min.
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/xskw4v

碩士 === 基督教台灣浸會神學院 === 基督教神學研究所 === 101 === Taiwanese folk group is the vast majority of the population of Taiwanese society. A matter of urgency for Christianity believers in Taiwan is intending to dialogue with the folk believers and try to seek a breakthrough. Taboo and Malice is an important element in Taiwan folk belief and Taiwanese people's livelihood, coupled with the Chinese attached particular importance of moral obligations of filial piety, therefore accord particular importance to funeral etiquette. In this research, the ritual of funeral is a contact point of believers. Through the studying funeral of Taiwanese folk ritual, we can explore the significance of folk belief contained in the funeral ceremonies and look for the contact points with the Christian faith to facilitate the effective communication of the Gospel. From breaking obstacles of taboos and malice as the starting point, in the Christian faith, we seek a good way of communicating with folk faith community for preaching Gospel. In this research we explored funeral connotation of Taiwanese folk beliefs in the literature examines and design a questionnaire to understand Taiwanese people's attention in the funeral etiquette. By programming memorial service of Christian funeral in substitution model, we expected to establish a funeral ceremony understood and accepted by folk beliefs with Christian connotations. The study concluded that, "freedom from fear" and "the souls have a good final resting place" are the commons issue of folk beliefs and Christian beliefs. We designed memorial service: the ritual of candles, the ritual of declaring God promises and the ritual of flowers to strengthen involvement in innova tive rituals with family and friends at the memorial service. Through the ritual connotation expression of the Christian faith, people of folk belief backgrounds can understand the meanings of Christian funeral by these rituals without the theological connotation.