[[alternative]]Understanding the Religious Principles and Doctrines of the Sukyo Mahikari: A Case Study of Believers in Taiwan

[[abstract]] 源自於日本的新興宗教「崇教真光(Sukyo Mahikari)」，創教於1959年，至今將近六十年的時間。而其在臺發展大約是在1980年代後，由臺灣民眾從日本傳回臺灣，雖然鮮少臺灣民眾聽過「崇教真光」，目前在臺信徒人數約七百多人，發展到現在也將近三十多年時間。本研究主要目的是透過訪談入信崇教真光的信徒（神組手），去認識源自於日本的新興宗教—崇教真光的教理與教義。本研究採取個案研究法，個別訪談七位在臺灣入信崇教真光的信徒（神組手），並探討他們如何在生活中去實踐崇教真光的教理與教義，以及入信後對其心理或生活層面之影響。訪談結果發現崇教真光有別於一般傳統宗教，其教理與教義強調透過「實踐」的方式，不只是名詞或是文本經書講道理而已。信徒（神組手）透過在日常生活中去「實踐」，也就是實踐真光之業（舉手施光），並且是以「利他愛」為出發，去為人服務，傳播神光。這點與傳統宗教或其他新興宗教信徒以求取的是自我問題的解決之道（自我愛）有很大的區別。而入信信徒也從實踐真光之業中，藉由拯救他人而獲得自救，並一步一步邁向「健、和、富」，達到人生的幸福目標。[[abstract]] ＂Sukyo Mahikari＂ is a new religion originating from Japan. It was established in 1959, and has been practiced for nearly 60 years. It was spread to Taiwan by Taiwanese believers from Japan approximately in the late 1980s. Although general public in Taiwan rarely hear about ＂Sukyo Mahikari,＂ currently, there are approximately 700 believers in Taiwan. This religion has been spread to Taiwan for newly 30 years. The main purpose of this study is to interview believers (Kamikumite) of Sukyo Mahikari to understand the religious principles and doctrines of the new religion originating from Japan-Sukyo Mahikari. This study used case study to interview 7 believers (Kamikumite) of Sukyo Mahikari in Taiwan individually, investigate how they put into practice the religious principles and doctrines of Sukyo Mahikari in life, and the psychological or life impacts after they believed in it. The interview results showed that Sukyo Mahikari is different from general traditional religions. Its religious principles and doctrines emphasize the methods of ＂practice,＂ instead of the use of terms or written scriptures to practice beliefs. Believers (Kamikumite) ＂put into practice＂ the religious principles and doctrines, namely, the art of true light (spiritual purification), in daily life. Besides, services to others and transmission of light are practiced from an altruistic perspective (love for others), which is significantly different from seeking solutions to one's own problems (love for selves) in traditional religions or other new religions. Moreover, believers are also able to rescue themselves by saving others through the practice of the art of true light, as well as achieve the objective of becoming ＂health,＂ ＂harmony,＂ ＂Prosperity,＂ and true happiness in life step by step