Religions of Taiwan

Buddhism

In every neighborhood there is a Buddhist temple. What grieves our hearts is that these temples are not “tourist” attractions or remnants of the past, but active thriving temples. We have seen young children, youth, adults, and elderly all come and bow to these idols. Satan truly has the people in bondage. The only answer and way to freedom is through Christ!

Ancestor Worship

Many in Taiwan are under the bondage of ancestor worship and tradition. To become a Christian is to break tradition, and many are afraid to anger the spirits of ancestors. Parents and grandparents will not let their children come to church because who will worship at their graves when they are dead? Most grown and married children are still bound to obey their parents. The graveyards are in the side of a hill where the ancestors are worshiped. Thousands of graves are scattered in the hills.

Traditional “worship centers” are in most homes and businesses.

Education

From a very young age, Taiwan’s children enter into a system that will govern almost the rest of their lives. They have school all day, special “cram” classes in the evening, and homework the rest of the time. The family is wrapped around school, with hopes of getting the children into the best highschool, the best college, the best graduate school, and then the best job. To fail would shame the entire family. Second in the class is not good enough. Education is truly worshiped.