One reality that stands out in history is that for religion to cross borders it has to shed the culture of the country of origin and be assimilated by culture of the country it is spreading to.
Thus the Buddhism that is in China is far different from that in northern India and has become part of the big culture of the Chinese in China. What are taboos in India may well be not so in China. Also though the Chinese who profess themselves as Buddhists may well be practicing popular cultural religion rather than Buddhism.
Western orientated religions that set foot in China would soon too be assimilated and become the face of popular religion. There is always the tendency or phenomenon for clan or village chief of sorts and he may even claim to be the incarnate of the prophet or founder of a particular religion.
To the outsiders especially the missionaries, this may be absurd but to the culture bound villagers and isolated societies of China, this is far from absurd. It is not a derogation of the introduced religion or sect but rather it is the wholehearted and unabashed acceptance.
What is important is that religion will not change the culture of the natives who are converted but rather the natives would convert any introduced religion to be more native in every sense and as soon as possible. This is true in any country or race.
When a religion becomes dominant in a Western country, it becomes assimilated into the culture of the country. It becomes westernised though the religion might have come from the East, Middle East or Far East.
Religion can never maintain its basic form and even the doctrine will be elaborated and re positioned to make it relevant to the culture and the times in the country or race that has taken up the religion. Religion enriches the culture or rather culture enriches religion as some will see it that way.
There will be those who lament that there is the sheer subordination of religion by culture to the extent that the missionaries may shake their heads and just let matters be or feel the need to start all over again. This has been the experience of missionaries time and time again in many countries.
This is consistent with the message of Lord Bo Tien in 1969 that people the world over must relearn or rather seek out the inner truth or teaching of the prophet or saints of religions apart from the history, culture, various beliefs and practices.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
Often the basic doctrine behind religions are same and simple in two points that there is Divinity and there is need for beings like men to save their souls by purifying themselves so as to be close to divinity.
The basic or inner truth is often buried over by layers of add-ons, practices and culture. Men must dig away the layers to reach the basic or inner truth common to all cultures and religions.
The basic or inner truth is often buried over by layers of add-ons, practices and culture. Men must dig away the layers to reach the basic or inner truth common to all cultures and religions.
The subordination of religion by culture is unavoidable and religion would end up existing more in name sake and less in the intended form.
The ethnic Chinese is one good example. They embrace any new introduced religion but there is no change of culture but change of religion. As a result, there is subjugation of religion to the culture.
In Chinese culture, there is the openness to accept the saints of all religions. But this is often not understood by many who are not Chinese. Wherever the Chinese go or migrate to, they take on the folklore gods or saints of the land of their adoption as theirs as well.
For instance, they pray to the datoks, the genie land or sea deities / fairies in like manner and zest as they would for the earth guardian deities - the Earth or Tu Ti Kong.
They will have no qualms going to churches to worship when they follow their loved ones or friends. This is because of culture which tends to assimilate religious practices and beliefs as part of ethnic Chinese culture.
In Chinese culture, there is the openness to accept the saints of all religions. But this is often not understood by many who are not Chinese. Wherever the Chinese go or migrate to, they take on the folklore gods or saints of the land of their adoption as theirs as well.
For instance, they pray to the datoks, the genie land or sea deities / fairies in like manner and zest as they would for the earth guardian deities - the Earth or Tu Ti Kong.
They will have no qualms going to churches to worship when they follow their loved ones or friends. This is because of culture which tends to assimilate religious practices and beliefs as part of ethnic Chinese culture.
Even Admiral Cheng Ho born into Muslim faith is worshiped as Chinese deity in a temple in Malacca and to many this is a Buddhist temple or if you like a mix Buddhist Taoist Confucian temple but really a temple of Chinese culture.
It is also in line with ethnic Chinese culture that a born church goer was involved as medium facilitator for Lord Bo Tien and he passed on in his faith of birth. This just points to the blurring of borders between faiths as a result of the prevailing culture of ethnic Chinese.
Culture is important to a nation or ethnic group as it is the operating binding factor for the community and nation. Having and improving the culture contributes to harmony and resilience of a community and nation.
When a religion is integrated into a culture, it becomes part of the culture. Culture colors the practice of that religion. Religions become subsumed under the culture of the community.
Often the divide if any between religions is no longer there but is blurred and in name sake only. This is more so when members of religions intermingle and take part in one another's activities. Isn't that the inevitable subordination of religions by culture?
