| Summary: | 碩士 === 世新大學 === 社會心理學系 === 101 === This study is concerned with the logic of action according to which young people join religious groups. Results of interviews with the subjects are analyzed based on the structuralist interpretation of Weber’s Lebensfuhrung using sequence analysis, a research method developed in objective hermeneutics from Germany. In this way, it is further discussed what role and consequences the religion of Tzu Chi plays and has in real-life practice by young believers.
It is found that Tzu Chi has stopped attracting young believers with the concept of accumulation of merits and virtues. Instead, they gradually evolve from participants in the activities of Tzu Chi to believers in its religion in the following steps:
(a)Decision: beginning with submiting to interpersonal stress
(b)Liking: interpersonal pull and warmth like that found in traditional families
(c)Process: strengthened collectivism and sanctity-like Lebensfuhrung
Young participants like and are willing to commit themselves to Tzu Chi because the diffusive relationship like that found in traditional families between members differs from the role-based relationship between members in average student associations. Exposed to constant suggestibility in the religious activities of Tzu Chi, they gradually understand the core values and goals of Tzu Chi that are traditional and deeply affected by Confucianism and it endeavors to regain and fulfill.
Influenced by the interplay between the ideology of ego reduction, harmony and withdrawal in Buddhism and strengthened collectivism, young believers can easily convert the core values and goals of Tzu Chi into the direction of their efforts by practicing and giving. This is because their subjectivity is not yet perfect or they lack values and goals in life, plus the positive affirmation between group members. Following the doctrine of Tzu Chi, they also start to attach values and meanings to their actions, stressing the problem of Bewahrung in their own lives, which is solvable by justifying.
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