American International Journal of Social Science

From Monopolist to Heteroglossia -The Changing of the Position of Church-State Relations of the Christian Denominations in Taiwan in Sunflower Student Movement
Po-Hsien Wang

Abstract
Throughout the modern church-state relations in Taiwan, this has transformed from a traditional governmentregulated society into a free and equal society. As the regimes changed, the tension between Church and State also kept changing. The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan began its mission in 1865. In its history of 150 years in Taiwan, it has experienced four ruling regimes. The oldest missionary - Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) has always played an important role through the period. The highest of tension was in Chiang Kai-shek’s regime. In the time, PCT fought with the government for many issues. In addition, Chiang’s regime also had their countermove. With the 1980’s political reform, the tension has been conceded. However, PCT still retains its concerns for political events. In the Sunflowers Student Movement in Taiwan in the 2014, PCT also played an important role. However, most of the pastors participated for no more than "It’s what we should do", and without ownership of dedicated mission. Meanwhile, in other denominations which firmly stood for "separation of church and state", their pastors begun to have some reminder about the right attitude for the Christian students who joined the movement. In view of the religious economic theory, we can have following explanation: (1) in the past, PCT’s political involvement made many organizations friendly to them. It became an oligopolistic Christian denomination. (2) After the tension between PCT and government was eased, the political concern of PCT became just slogans. (3) The atmosphere of the whole society supporting the student movement makes the sects which were dissenting of political concern switch to support the movement.

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