The Introduction

Abstract

This introductory chapter discusses the theory of inculturation/indigenization. Paradoxically, the result of indigenization has had reverse effects making the Taiwan Church more global and universal than before. The indigenization of the Taiwan Church in various ways was possible in the first place because of the influx of large groups of church experts from Mainland China. Significant events in the iconic years of 1949 and 2015 in Taiwan and the Taiwan Church are discussed in the context of the Church’s inculturation. This chapter also introduces the characteristics of each writer in the volume in terms of their special academic disciplines depicting different aspects of the Taiwan Catholic Church and revealing the multifaceted aspects of Catholicism through history, philosophy, social science, linguistics, music and literature.