Living between 'the Sacred' and 'the Secular' as Christians: The Case of 'the Local Church Assembly Hall in Taipei City'

Abstract

　The purport of this study was to probe into the processes and contents when “Religious Ethics” took a turn to “Living Ethics” from the point of view of Christian, also known as Actor. When facing conflicts of inherent rules between belief and various values in the present world, the possible contingent tactics, explainable mode, selective aspect, influential factors, and theoretical implication which we could select and adopt.

　The processes of comprehension and analysis in this study had been influenced and inspired deeply by Max Weber’s thoughts, including the application of distinctive analyzing account and discussion of legitimate living style in modern society, etc….
In the chapters of Literature, the author categorized the theoretical thought above into two theses: the front thesis which imitated Max Weber’s unique analyzing account and comprehension logics conferred the relationship between “ideas” and social actions; the later thesis which interrelated with the nuclear issue of this research probed into the relationship between “Ethic” and “the World.”

　“In-Depth Interviews” and “Participant Observation” were adopted as research methods to obtain complete annotation and comprehension. Besides, considering the convenience when researchers doing observe and interview, and mastering all the segments in the relevant parties, the materials of this study were Brothers and Sisters in “the Local Church Assembly Hall in Taipei City.” In order to clarify some controversial issues which had been pointed out in this study by the background of research materials, it would describe and analyze fully based on the “Religious Ethics” and characteristics of followers in every chapter of this literature.

　From 2008 to 2009, survey candidates of this study added up to 15 people who all come from different districts of “the Local Church Assembly Hall in Taipei City.” The whole interview carried out through “Semi-Structure And In-Depth Interview” method. The author prepared “outlines of interviewing subjects” in advance as follows: “Finical Management Concept”, “Occupational Concept”, “Marriage Concept”, “Do Not Allow To Divorce”, “Friends-Making Concept”, “Family Relationship”, “Time Management”, “Sex Equality”, and “The Harder Lessons.” Although the interviews included all the questions above, the interviewing contents had not been concluded in the analyzing chapter because some contents of issues had particularities, such as “Property Consecration” and “Do Not Allow to Divorce”, or the incomplete data of some issues, such as “The Relationship between family members who did not have the same religion.” For this reason, the interview contents were just for enumerating when needed.

　The author discriminated the interview contents into two analyses aspects according to the correlation of the interview above: “Career Aspect” in which included “Occupational Concept” and “Time Management”; so, the connotation of this issue was how to define your own position in “The Universe” when there were conflicts between followers’ beliefs and reality. Secondly, “Interpersonal Relationship” in which included “Friends-Making Concept”, “Marriage Concept” and “Sex Equality." The purpose of these issues was to “judge” the correlation between oneself and “The Universe” according to the belief and reality. Furthermore, if you would like to keep consistent attitude in “The Universe”, you had to make a choice between “Sacrosanct Values” and “Common Customs Values.”

　In the first place, the researcher got into the conclusion by using “The Secularization Thesis” in the Sociology of religion. However, the author did not want to proceed in-depth discussion about this issue; instead, the researcher just wanted to lead this conclusion into the phenomenon in which oneself heaved “The Impact of Subjective Religiosity” (or “People’s Belief”) in Modern Society. The meaning of upgrading “The Impact of Subjective Religiosity” was to make followers have their own ideal to interpret freedom in the frame of belonging church and beliefs. By the way, we could also discuss about “Rational Choice” in Religion.

　The Church which this study chose was been commented to be more “Conservative” and “Conscientious” sect in “The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.” It stuck on the religious doctrines and beliefs and regarded “Bible” as the only norm. As for the religious practice, it focused on the mission of returning to “The Early Church.” So, the followers’ characteristics, such as “Nimble and Freedom”, “Flexible”, and “Personal God-Fearing” would be stand out toward “Conservative” characters of religious groups. Although these were just “Limited Freedom” and “Limited Elasticity”, the meaning of upgrades of “The Impact of Subjective Religiosity” and “The Process of Followers’ Rational Selection” could be seen all too clear.