Having originated in mainland China one hundred years ago, Yiguandao is a fast growing religious movement and one the largest religions in Taiwan, where it relocated the center of its activities in the mid-20th century. Today, it exists as a highly adaptive transnational religious movement devoted to self-cultivation and social harmony. Moreover, in contrast with other Chinese religious traditions, the group’s millenarian teachings lend believers a sense of urgency as they carry out proselytizing activities across the world.
The True Jesus Church in Taiwan: Resilience, community, and the centrality of truth in a Chinese Christian movement
The True Jesus Church was founded in 1917 by a Chinese silk merchant named Wei Enbo. Later taking the Christian name Baoluo (Paul), Wei claimed to have received a vision in which Jesus personally baptized him, and called on him to restore Christianity to its original purity. This report is an account of the historical context of this unique branch of Christianity, and the experiences of its members in Taiwan today.
Taiwan: Mount Zion and Typhoon Morakot — a new religious movement’s response to a natural disaster
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