Page 42 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

2.6 Conclusion

Overall, the study shows several causes and mechanisms behind long-standing beliefs in
TCR among the Chinese. Fulfilling social requirements, which include ‘maintaining family

traditions’, ‘societal expectations’, or ‘cultural identity’, are the main reasons. Such a stand is
likely influenced by a complex interplay of social, personal factors and culture. Family is
certainly the biggest player in influencing someone to believe in TCR. Parents who are TCR

practitioners are expected to be the role model, and to educate and ensure that TCR is
passed on to their children.

In other words, TCR reflects the function of indicating the Chinese ethnic identity

marker. For many, the religions are embraced not for religious purposes. TCR are embraced
because they are seen as a pillar of Chinese tradition and identity. Hence, embracing TCR

is a form commitment rather than a belief. For these people, TCR is not seen as a religion.
The religions are part of their identity, and they are merely adhering to the traditions that
define their Chinese identity. This research has also discovered that many respondents are

not really believers. Their conviction is low and many of them are not religiously
knowledgeable, while some of them doubted their own religion. Besides this finding, this

research has also discovered that though many of the respondents consider TCR as their
cultural identity and try to maintain it, peripheralization of TCR from Chinese identity is
possible since some of them do not think religion and ethnicity are intertwined.

As pointed out in Chapter One, many social and psychological factors are causing
the Chinese to convert to other religions. Factors such as intellectualization of religion that is
caused by modernization and scientific education are causing the Chinese to be critical and

some doubted their own religion. Although family is still playing a huge role in retaining TCR
as part of Chinese tradition and identity, the role can be depleted since the meaning of

tradition and identity are subject to interpretation. Malaysian Chinese are exposed to many
non-TCR. Some of these religions such as Catholicism and Protestantism have adapted to
Chinese culture. This adaptation has caused the role of TCR as the marker of Chinese

tradition to diminish. Meanwhile, TCR organizations such as temples and associations are
not playing an active role to retain their believers too. Due to the changes caused by
modernization and education, the Chinese are looking for spiritual reasons to join a religion.

However, based on current observations, many TCR organizations focus more on rituals and
not the teachings or activities that are able to engage and meet the expectations of their
followers. Some of these organizations are also not proactively adapting to the other

demands of their followers. Eventually, the increase in the number of Malaysian Chinese who
chose to leave TCR will become inevitable.

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