Page 76 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

4.7 Different Modus Operandi of Different Religious Bodies

Further to the different perceptions on religious conversion, the ways in which different
religious bodies use different approaches in recruiting new members and spreading the faith

were highlighted by the John, Koh and Helen in the following excerpts:

John Koh Helen

“I also realized that at the “I think this is because “Because Fo Guang Shan is
university, Christian groups religions like Christianity are about culture and offers
are more aggressive more organized when it comes different classes to learn

compared to Buddhist ones in to proselytizing people. They different things and skills.
terms of doing charity work. know how to persuade people This is what ren jian fo jiao
Besides that, Christian groups into believing in Christianity. ( 人 间 佛 教 , humanistic

also know how to present For example, when someone
Buddhism is about – to learn
themselves in a more is about to die, Christians
Buddha’s teachings, and we
interesting manner – there are would approach him/her to talk
are all human beings, and
many activities being about going to heaven. People
Buddha was also a human
organized at the church. They are naturally afraid of death, so
being who went through all
would organise singing and this strategy works. In
the sufferings before he
dancing activities during contrast, Taoism doesn’t
found the true path. That is
Sunday service and attempt to convert people like
why Master Hsing Yun is
sometimes you feel as if you Christianity. It lets people
propagating) ren jian fo
are at a show. This approach believe in it naturally.”
jiao … easier for us to relate.”
would appeal to the youths. On

the other hand, when we
speak of Buddhism, people

would visualize followers
reciting sutras. Buddhism and
Taoism, compared to

Christianity, appear to be a
little boring in terms of
presentation. Also, Buddhism

and Taoism don’t focus on
‘converting’ people, unlike

Christianity.”

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