Page 24 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

1.6 Conclusion

This book attempts to discuss a major issue affecting the Chinese community in Malaysia. In
fact, this issue is not limited to Chinese Malaysians. It is affecting Chinese communities

across the world.

Religion is a fundamental matter when one discusses his or her identity or when one
tries to identify the identity of a person from a collective perspective The Chinese, in general
have been living with a religious tradition that is drawn from the essence of Buddhism, Taoism,

Confucianism and their ancestral beliefs. Their worldview incorporates these essences and
shapes every aspect of their everyday life. The essences caused them to see themselves as
different particularly when they live in a diverse society such as Malaysia.

In a diverse society such as Malaysia, if there is any discussion concerning the

religion of the Chinese in Malaysia, many will associate it with Buddhism and the traditional
Chinese religion practices. Beyond Malaysia, places where the Chinese have immigrated
and settled down, the Chinese religious worldview and their religious life are also shaping

the way the host communities interpret the Chinese.

Thus, it is undeniable that the TCR are making the Chinese… Chinese. Any alteration
to the Chinese religious identity will reshape the meaning of Chinese and being Chinese. But,
as mentioned earlier, the Chinese conviction towards their traditional religions are declining.

If this trend is to continue, the TCR will gradually play a lesser role in shaping the way the
Chinese live and eventually their identity.

This phenomenon is often linked to personal choices. When a Chinese convert to
non-TCR, the decision is considered a private matter and most often structural and other

non-personal factors are ignored. Probably, the ignorance is deliberate since conversion is
a personal decision and in general a sensitive matter be it at the family or community level.

On the other hand, this ignorance can also be caused by the lack of systematic research on
this matter and eventually a comprehensive explanation that goes beyond “personal choice”
factor is not provided. For this matter, the TCR organizations need to take responsibility.

An explanation that is based on systematic study ought to be provided. This
explanation is important particularly to TCR organizations’ leaders. They are responsible for

making sure TCR continues to be practised by the Chinese and they should devise measures
to stop the decline. As will be explained later in this book, many TCR organization leaders

are not performing this function. They are merely performing routine roles without realizing
that the religion they are leading is falling behind. We hope this book will be able to fulfil its

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