The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and Its Changing Narrative on Human Rights

Authors

RYCHETSKÁ Magdaléna

Year of publication 2022
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Review of Religion and Chinese Society
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Arts

Citation
Web odkaz na celý článek
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22143955-08020014
Keywords human rights; Christianity; Presbyterian Church in Taiwan; democratization; self-determination; Taiwan
Description The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (pct) is the Protestant denomination with the longest tradition in the country. The central theological position of the church began to change in the late 1960s, and over the following decade the church became increasingly politically active and vocal in its support for human rights, minority rights, and democratization. This paper addresses the issue of human rights as narrated within the pct, which explained its involvement in human rights with reference to its Christian beliefs. One outcome of the church’s endeavors was that the people of Taiwan accepted the struggle initiated by the church and began to ask for free elections. Using the pct as an example, the paper shows that religious bodies have the potential to be a positive force for change in society and that a Christian perspective on human rights can contribute to secular discourse on the topic.
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