Page 92 - A Study of Traditional Chinese Religions in Malaysia: The Decline and the Path Towards Revitalization

globalized such encounters are unavoidable. They are now able to compare and choose a
religion or even not to have a religion. Without strong conviction towards TCR, they may opt

to convert or to become an atheist. To build such conviction, the Chinese need to learn and
understand TCR and not merely adhering to the religions’ rituals. This process is important
particularly when the Chinese are increasingly seeking logical and rational explanations. As

reported in Chapter Two, some of the respondents who claimed to practice TCR have doubts
on their religions. They are looking forward to teachings that can convince them and not

rituals that are unexplained or unexplainable.

For this matter, the TCR organizations play important roles. However, not all TCR
organizations such as temples or TCR associations are playing this role actively. They are

merely playing the maintenance role, running day to day chores and neglecting their roles to
proselytize their religions or at least to provide some guidance on the teachings of their
religions. Findings reported in Chapter Five are showing some TCR organizations,

particularly Chinese folk-religion organizations do not have to include these functions as their
as their agendas. In comparison, the Buddhist movements are doing much better. They

understand their function and initiate various activities to spread Buddhist teachings. As a
result, many Chinese Malaysians are now identifying themselves as Buddhists. Unlike the
folk-religion temples, the Buddhist movements are more focused in educating and

proselytizing Buddhism and not merely organizing festivals or ritualistic praying sessions. By
doing so, the Chinese learn to accept Buddhism. However, it is also understood that the folk-

religion and some Taoist temples may not have the capacity to do so; although they know
and understand the importance of such functions. Lack of funds and specialists are some of
the challenges that they have to overcome before they can embark on a long-term project to

revive their religions. Without such efforts, their believers will turn to be adherents and soon
they will become non-believers.

6.3 From Non-TCR To Chinese’s Religion

Based on the reports elaborated earlier, there are indications that the Chinese are becoming
more receptive to non-TCR. Generally, the Chinese Malaysians are not associating their

ethnic identity to religion. For most of them, the two concepts are separable though to some
extent they are intertwined. As reported in Chapter Two, quite a number of respondents do
not agree their Chineseness is determined by their religion although some of them agreed

that their religiosity can complement their Chineseness. In other words, being Chinese does
not mean that one has to believe in TCR. Most of the non-TCR believers (reported in Chapter
Three) do not think their religion changes their ethnic identity. Even if certain aspects of their

Chineseness are somewhat shaped by TCR, the non-TCR can make adjustments and allow

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