02/07/2026 09:00 - 11:10

HALL: Pola - A105

Contact: Introvigne M.

Chair: Marin C.

This session explores the evolving landscape of new spiritual movements in Taiwan and the challenges they face in securing full protection of freedom of religion or belief. Through six case-based and theoretically informed papers, the panel traces how diverse movements—ranging from the New Testament Church's Mount Zion community to Tai Ji Men—have navigated state institutions, public perceptions, and shifting legal frameworks. The opening paper situates the Mount Zion saga within a comparative perspective, showing how early tensions between the New Testament Church and Taiwanese authorities foreshadowed later conflicts involving other minority spiritual groups. Subsequent contributions examine Tai Ji Men from multiple angles: the spiritual and emotional significance of the Miaoli sacred land; the use of taxation as a tool of indirect discrimination; the relationship between equality, trust, and freedom of belief; the cultural meaning of the master-disciple tradition; and the broader implications of the case for institutional integrity and sustainable governance. Together, these papers illuminate recurring patterns—misinterpretation of spiritual practices, administrative overreach, and the fragility of institutional trust—while highlighting the resilience of Taiwan's spiritual communities. By bringing historical, legal, cultural, and interdisciplinary perspectives into dialogue, the session offers a comprehensive assessment of how Taiwan's democratic system grapples with the rights of new spiritual movements and what these cases reveal about the future of religious liberty on the island.