The impact of religion on society. The example of Taiwan.

2. 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

4. We stayed here

5. Looking out the window

6. Looking down the street to Taipei 101

7. Taoism 8 Million and 18,274 Temples
Buddhism 8 Million and 4006 Temples
mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

11. Longshan Temple, mixture of Taoism and Buddhism

12. Longshan Temple

13. Longshan Temple

14. Zhinan Temple

15. Zhinan Temple

16. Zhinan Temple

17. Zhinan Temple

23. What do these religions in Taiwan
teach?
What are the ethical teachings that
have such an impact on peoples positive
behavior in Taiwan

24. 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

25. 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.

27. Seek harmony and unity between
complimentary opposites Yin- passive
and Yang =ctive
Humility and noncompetition
Naturalness
Nonaggression and passive rule
Lao Tzu

28. Outside the National Theater in Taipei
http://www.faluninfo.net/gallery/8/

29. A blend of Taoism, Buddhism, popular religions
Beliefs: the cultivation of vital energies through
truthfulness,
compassion,
tolerance, and
physical exercises

31. 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

36. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2010/09/14/272459/14-Chinese.htm

40. Safety Index
(100 is very
safe)
United
States
49.84
Taiwan 78.56
http://www.numbeo.com/
crime/rankings_by_country
.jsp

41. Crime Index
United
States
50.16
Taiwan
http://www.numbeo
.com/crime/ranking
s_by_country.jsp
21.44

42. Fourth Grade, 2011
4th in Mathematics and Science
9th 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

44. “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

45. “…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. 5
Jiexia 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/

47. 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_effect
s_of_religion/
 promote social stability
 promote ethical behavior
 encourage learning
 lower crime
Matthew 8:10 -11