Taiwan Church News

3378 Edition

November 21 - 27, 2016

Church Ministry

Eminent Religious Academics Stand Up For Same Sex Marriage

Reported by Lin Yi-yin

In the middle of November, facing the deteriorating conflicts within Taiwan society on legalizing same-sex marriage, six renown scholars on Buddhism and Christianity drafted a signatory petition urging more support for building a free, just and inclusive society to accommodate same sex marriage.

These six academics are Master Chau Huei(former dean of Social Science College of Hsuan Chuang University), MrWen Chin-ker(a lay person of Modern Zen Pure Land Buddhism), Mr Yang Huei-nan(a retired NTU professor of philosophy), Rev Chen Nan-chou(former vice president of Yu-Shan Theological College and Seminary), Prof Zeng Yang-en(a church historian of Taiwan Theological College and Seminary), and Assistant Prof Chen Huei-san(a fellow of religious studies at Yu-Shan Theological College and Seminary).

Based on the modern principle of the separation of politics from religion, the signatory petition urges same sexmarriage should be supported by each religion in Taiwan, in order to encourage every citizen to treat marriage and family with a responsible attitude, and let the values of tolerance, justice and freedom to become Taiwan society's common good which is also the ultimate goal of our national laws and social orders.

On the other hand, stressed this petition, the related parties involved in this same-sex marriage contention shouldacknowledge the existence of a multiple-interpretations about sexual inclination and sexual identity within the traditions and classic texts of each religion. As a positive dialogue within each religious tradition, and hence a inter-religious conversation accordingly, is absolutely needed for Taiwan's current context and helpful toward a proper and progressive religious teaching in each religion.

Translated by Peter Wolfe