Does anyone here practice Chinese religion(s)?

I was going to make the title “Has anyone here converted to Chinese religion(s)?” but I’m not sure if the term “convert” is appropriate. In fact I’m not even sure how to define Chinese religion(s). Screaming Jesus noted the difficulties with that issue here.

But do any of you practice Buddhism or Daoism? Do you pray at temples? Do you worship your ancestors or your Taiwanese SO’s ancestors during Confucian rituals? Do you believe in Mazu, visit her temple, participate in her street processions? Do you burn incense and ghost money? Have any of you embraced Yikuandao and actively seek to convert others? Do any of you proselytize Chinese religion(s) to others? Do you subscribe to any Chinese folk beliefs outside of the normal “religious” activities and experiences?

I’ll make a little confession. When I was in Taiwan I participated in some kind of a ritual on the street where people were burning incense and praying. I was a Christian at the time, but my curiousity overcame me and I joined in. I have no clue if it was Buddhist/Daoist/Confucian or what.

Have wife. So yes, I prayed to so many wooden Gods here, heaven better be run by a woodpecker or I am in serious trouble.

Burned ghost money, watched my wife burn real money, kneeled in front of statues in golden sandals, threw the “dice” if we get rich and stuff…

I’ve participated in the “Bai Bai” burning with a client or two as they’ve started construction on new buildings.
Held the incense and bowed. As I was doing it I said a prayer asking for the Lord to watch over the workers, guide the work and keep them safe.
Always followed by shots of whisky and beer after the ceremony.
Thats about as ‘Chinese’ religious as I get. I respect their customs. Wife is Christian so no problem there. Heck…she thinks I’m a heretic anyway.
I tell her I’m just her own little fuzzy infidel.

I’ve participated in religious rituals and services, but not because I’m a believer, but more in respect for those I was with, such as at funerals.

I’m not religious, but I find it interesting from an anthropological perspective.

I’m a Christian so I have never and will never participate in any of it. I do respect what others believe and I may also find it interesting from an anthropological point of view, but that’s where the curiosity ends.

My wife is a Buddhist (and being Taiwanese, probably a little Daoist), however, we’ve agreed my son will be raised Christian. Her family also knows he is not under any circumstances to be taken to any temple to be blessed or made to take part in any religious or semi-religious ceremonies other than Christian ones. As I respect what they believe they, too, respect this.
Partly because seeing as she married me she is required to join my family and worship my ancestors, i.e. Christianity.

Seems to work nicely wrt Taiwanese tradition and we’ve had no problems with this.

Almost anything goes with me EXCEPT Christianity. I use the temples on special occasions. Have burned ghost money and incense. Spiritual, not religious.

It’s interesting that no one seems to have fully embraced Chinese religion. Maybe it’s because the local don’t proselytize or even think of their beliefs as constituting a “religion” at all. Also, there doesn’t seem to be a standard “conversion” ritual like you’d find in the Abrahamic religions, though I have read about mass Buddhist conversions (but not in Taiwan).

[quote=“bismarck”]I’m a Christian so I have never and will never participate in any of it. I do respect what others believe and I may also find it interesting from an anthropological point of view, but that’s where the curiosity ends.

My wife is a Buddhist (and being Taiwanese, probably a little Daoist), however, we’ve agreed my son will be raised Christian. Her family also knows he is not under any circumstances to be taken to any temple to be blessed or made to take part in any religious or semi-religious ceremonies other than Christian ones. As I respect what they believe they, too, respect this.
Partly because seeing as she married me she is required to join my family and worship my ancestors, i.e. Christianity.

Seems to work nicely wrt Taiwanese tradition and we’ve had no problems with this.[/quote]

Just curious, no offence intended for the following.

Will your son learn about the Buddhist/Daoist side of his culture? I don’t mean participate in ceremonies necessarily, but at least have the various teachings/Gods/customs explained to him. It’d seem a shame if he wasn’t.

Personally, if I were in that situation, I’d teach my son about Christianity and take him to church, and let my wife and her family do the same with respect to Buddhism/Daoism, then when my son is old enough, let him make up his own mind which, if any, he wants to follow.

Mass Buddhist conversions, at least the one’s I’ve heard about, are held in India. They typically involve the conversion of the untouchables (Dalits) of Hinduism to Buddhism because Buddhism has no caste system. I don’t think they’re converting out of a desire to be Buddhists, it’s more a political thing to demonstrate that even though caste-based discrimination is illegal in India, it still goes on in the same way it has for 100s of years. It’s more a conversion out of Hinduism than a conversion into Buddhism.

Maybe he should rephrase the question:

“Does anyone here practice any of the Chinese religions out of genuine belief (as opposed to I only participate in burning ghost money because my wife is Chinese or out of mere politeness to my Chinese hosts)?”

Are you required to worship her ancestors too? :wink:

I’ll probably get crucified for this but here goes…

I simply can’t take religion seriously. Whether it’s Western or Eastern, it doesn’t matter. It’s all hocus pocus to me. I have been asked to participate in some rituals and I gauge each situation seperately as to whether I have to or not (I always don’t want to, but I have enough sense to do it if it would be deeply offensive not to).

If I am put in a situation where I have to participate, I am merely going through motions all the while thinking to myself how silly I look. I think this because it’s what I think when I see others doing it.I never say it (ok, until right now).

I know, this sounds cold and callous and culturally insensitive. I’m not making any excuses. I’m just being honest about it. However, I must add that my outward attitude is always one of respect toward others beliefs. But inside I’m amazed that so many people deeply believe in such nonsense.

Ecaps

I can’t say you’re wrong, because that’s what I think too, yet I respect all religions (except maybe Scientology, but you know…). But it irks me that some religions think they’re superior to others, and if I were to be religious Buddhism would be the way to go- at least they don’t preach to me 24/7; it’s more a way of life than religion.

Do you respect Satanism ? You said you respect all religions i was just curious ?

Does Stanism exist in Taiwan ? Or is there a Chinese version that worships the king of hell or evil spirits rather than good ones.

Are there any evil occult sects here ? Like the moonies or mormons for example ?

Do you respect Satanism ? You said you respect all religions I was just curious ?
Does Stanism exist in Taiwan ? Or is there a Chinese version that worships the king of hell or evil spirits rather than good ones.
Are there any evil occult sects here ? Like the moonies or mormons for example ?[/quote]

Off-topic
(I know it is not the point you really argue here.)
Some Taiwanese indeed worship Kings of the Hell and as far as I know, there are ten Kings of Hell.

No offense intended, but that’s a very traditional man-centric way of thinking. just noticing, is all from an anthropological point of view.

But yea, I personally don’t see this stuff as religion, more like superstition. There’s an idiom that say a Chinese is part Daoist, part Buddhist, part Confucian (robe, hat, shoes). So it’s not proselytizing in the sense that the People of the Book are.

personally, I’m not big on idolatry. It dissociates from the real world since it’s only a representation of something else.

Do you respect Satanism ? You said you respect all religions I was just curious ?
Does Stanism exist in Taiwan ? Or is there a Chinese version that worships the king of hell or evil spirits rather than good ones.
Are there any evil occult sects here ? Like the moonies or mormons for example ?[/quote]

Off-topic
(I know it is not the point you really argue here.)
Some Taiwanese indeed worship Kings of the Hell and as far as I know, there are ten Kings of Hell.[/quote]

Is this worship of the ten kings of hell for everyone or just gangsters. Is it considered as “taboo” as Satanism in the west ?

Is there a temple that does this as it would be interesting to take a look.

Do you respect Satanism ? You said you respect all religions I was just curious ?
Does Stanism exist in Taiwan ? Or is there a Chinese version that worships the king of hell or evil spirits rather than good ones.
Are there any evil occult sects here ? Like the moonies or mormons for example ?[/quote]

Off-topic
(I know it is not the point you really argue here.)
Some Taiwanese indeed worship Kings of the Hell and as far as I know, there are ten Kings of Hell.[/quote]

Is this worship of the ten kings of hell for everyone or just gangsters. Is it considered as “taboo” as Satanism in the west ?

Is there a temple that does this as it would be interesting to take a look.[/quote]

I would not equate the Chinese king of hell to Satan. The king of hell is just another bureacratized officer in a system. There’s no great battle of Good v. Evil, no fallen angel, no First Rebel. The guy’s just doing his job. Chinese people don’t worship him in the same sense you would worship Satan, sacrifice animals, and hate God or whatever they do. The King of Hell doesn’t tempt you, doesn’t fight with God over your soul. You fuck up, and you get sentenced. It’s not his fault you screwed up your life.

The prominent feature of any Chinese belief system is subordination to a bureacratic element. There’s org charts for everything.

Do you respect Satanism ? You said you respect all religions I was just curious ?
Does Stanism exist in Taiwan ? Or is there a Chinese version that worships the king of hell or evil spirits rather than good ones.
Are there any evil occult sects here ? Like the moonies or mormons for example ?[/quote]

Off-topic
(I know it is not the point you really argue here.)
Some Taiwanese indeed worship Kings of the Hell and as far as I know, there are ten Kings of Hell.[/quote]

The temple across the street from my house is a Hell Temple. It houses a museum displaying the tortures of the damned in hell and the Lords of Hell.

How much practice does it take to put a pineapple in front of a doll?