Page 8 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

Contents

Preface II

Foreword IV

Contents VIII

List of Tables and Figures XI
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background 01
1.2 Census Reports: Misreporting and the Declining TCR 03
1.3 Possible Factors Causing the Decline of TCR 07
1.4 The Research 09
1.5 Carrying Out the Research 10
1.6 Conclusion 12
Chapter Two: Traditional Chinese Religions (TCR) in Malaysia:
Practitioners’ Perceptions
2.1 Introduction 14
2.2 Socio-Demographics of Respondents 14
2.3 Religion is Non-essential 15
2.4 The reason behind their belief 18
2.4.1 Family as the Main Conservation Agent
2.4.2 The Intention to Pass on Chinese Religious Identity
2.4.3 Religion Provides Spiritual and Mental Support
2.5 Limited Conviction, Modest Commitment 21
2.5.1 Not all Understand and Participate in Religion Rituals
2.5.2 Many Respondents are not Religiously Knowledgeable
2.5.3 Quite a Number of Respondents are not
Convinced by Their Religion
2.5.4 TCR can be Peripheralized.
2.6 Conclusion 30

Chapter Three: Traditional Chinese Religions and Conversion in Malaysia
3.1 Introduction 31
3.2 Background of Respondents 31
3.3 Conviction to Religion 33
3.4 Conversion Agents 37
3.5 Factors Behind the Conversions 38
3.5.1 Dissatisfied with Previous Religion
3.5.2 Conversion does not Affect ‘Chineseness’
3.5.3 Feeling Dissociated from Traditional Chinese Religion
3.6 Life After Conversion 45
3.6.1 Challenges Faced after Conversion
3.6.1.1 Level of satisfaction after conversion

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