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臺灣的民間信仰 Taiwanese Folk Religion

媽祖博古通今，行醫救人，本 為海上的守護神，隨時間演變成全 台的精神信仰中心。 Mazu is the Chinese goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors. She is an important deity in Taiwan. Mazu is also worshiped in East and Southeast Asia.

* 媽祖廟是供奉媽祖的地方，由於信徒眾 多， 全臺灣的媽祖廟高達 1000 座。 There are up to 1000 temples in Taiwan. There are up to 1000 Mazu temples in Taiwan.

每年四月中的大甲媽祖遶境是全台最盛大的宗教活動，信徒們為 了感謝媽祖的恩澤，跟著媽祖神轎，從台中大甲來回嘉義新港， 全程九天八夜，所到之處， 民眾莫不夾道膜拜，可見媽祖對民眾的影響力無邊。 The biggest Mazu Temple is at Dajia,Taiwan.During Dajia Mazu Procession Festival, a statue of the goddess is carried by devotees on a special palanquin. Huge numbers of people follow the palanquin on foot. The procession sets off at around 11 p.m. and over a period of eight days and seven nights. The statue will be taken to townships on a route of more than 280 kilometers. No wonder it is listed as one of three major religious festivals in the world.

* The first amendment in our Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion * The Bill of Rights represents the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution

* Christian: 82% Christian * Protestants: 70% Protestants * Baptist: 39% Baptist * Methodist: 10% Methodist * Presbyterian: 3% Presbyterian * Church of God: 2% Church of God * Lutheran: 2% Lutheran * Pentecostal: 2% Pentecostal * Church of Christ: 6% Church of Christ * Roman Catholic: 6% Roman Catholic * Other Christian (includes unspecified "Christian" and "Protestant"): 12% * Islam: 1% Islam * Other religions: 2% * Non-religious: 9%

* Chattanooga has over 800 religious centers * Protestant, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Catholic Churches * Jewish Synagogues * Mormon Temples * Mosques

* Population Hamilton County, TN 336,463 * how-many-people-live-in-hamilton-county how-many-people-live-in-hamilton-county * Population Chattanooga, TN (part of Hamilton County) 167,674 * how-many-people-live-in-chattanooga how-many-people-live-in-chattanooga * Hamilton County website: * Images Chattanooga: data.com/city/Chattanooga-Tennessee.htmlhttp:// data.com/city/Chattanooga-Tennessee.html

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