In The Pagan Vineyard: A Study On The Catholic Church In Twain Under Japanese Rule

This research is intended to analyze and discuss various important factors of Taiwan Catholic Church during the period of Japanese rule: the missionary activities of the church, the interior organizations' development, the evolution of the believers' components and belief, and the Catholic social work, in order to restore the original looks of the Taiwan Catholic Church under Japanese rule, thereby, to explore and reflect the significance of its development and evolution.Focusing on the church itself, believers, and the relations between the church and Taiwan society, this thesis, with the methods including history, sociology, and religion, reveals the developing process and rebuilds a complete historical picture.This research shows: Compared with the situation in Qing Dynasty, the Taiwan Catholic made a big progress under the Japanese rule, took on ever-increasing tendency and the features of times, and played a positive role in some aspects. But in the meantime, it had limitations in comparison to the Presbyterian Church.