On 8 August 2009 Typhoon Morakot blasted across Taiwan, the strongest typhoon to reach the island in recent decades. Floods ravaged much of the island and severe landslides destroyed roads, towns and farmland. The village of Hsiao-lin, located in the mountains of southern Taiwan became the focal point of the disaster when it was completely buried by a landslide, killing several hundred people. Approximately 10 kilometres upstream from Hsiao-lin is Mount Zion, the primary holy site of the New Testament Church that, the group claims, will be the venue for the heavenly descent of Jesus Christ.
Paul Farrelly is currently studying Mandarin in Taipei and is the English editor at erenlai.com. He is a graduate of the Masters program at the Australian National University and has a keen interest in new religious movements and religious innovation, particularly in Taiwan and China.
© 2010 Paul Farrelly / Religioscope
© 2010 Paul Farrelly for the photographs
