[[alternative]]＂Animal Release＂ and the Development of Religious Groups in Taiwan: A Case Study of the Chinese Association of Life Preservation

[[abstract]] 放生活動近年來開始在台灣蓬勃發展，但其在社會上所引起的爭議性也越來越大，且保育團體與政府對於放生議題的關切也是日益增加。所以本研究旨在研究台灣宗教團體的發展與放生之間的關係，並以中華護生協會為主要探討對象。 為了能夠設身處地的體會放生的意義與人們對於放生的感受，本研究以理性選擇論為主要架構，並採用參與觀察法與深度訪談等方式進行研究，本研究結果發現如下： 一、中華護生協會以「企業化」的經營方式取得放生區位的主導權。二、中華護生協會的放生教義以「簡單」與「醫療」為特色。三、「放生」與「吃素」為中華護生協會最重要的宗教文化。四、中華護生協會與社會價值之間主要的張力來源為「貪求功德」、「斂財」與「破壞生態」。五、「家庭化」不是中華護生協會主要的擴張途徑。六、「助念」是中華護生協會提高信徒人際依戀的主要方式。 最後並根據本研究，提出一些問題省思。[[abstract]] Animal release, or setting captured animals free has become an activity in vigorous development in recent years, which has aroused more and more controversies in the society as well as more and more concerns from both conservation organizations and the government toward the animal release issue. Using Chinese Association of Life Preservation as a subject, this study is to explore the relationships between the development of religious groups in Taiwan and the animal release issue.In order to place ourselves in the position of those who perform animal release and understand the meaning thereof and the reception of general public, based on Rational Choice Theory as the main frame, this study was conducted by Participant Observation Method and in-depth interviews. Findings are listed hereunder: 1. Chinese Association of Life Preservation dominates niches of animal release through entrepreneurial operation.2. The animal release doctrines of Chinese Association of Life Preservation are characterized by ＂simplicity＂ and ＂medication.＂3. ＂Animal release＂ and ＂observing a vegetarian regimen＂ are main religious cultures in Chinese Association of Life Preservation.4. Main tensions between Chinese Association of Life Preservation and the society come from ＂aspiring too much to charitable and pious deeds＂, ＂corruption＂ and ＂spoiling ecological balance.＂5. A family-centered approach is not the main channel through which Chinese Association of Life Preservation expands.6. ＂Reciting for the dying＂ is a major mean that Chinese Association of Life Preservation elevates interpersonal attachments. Discussion and suggestions are given at the end