道教在現代社會的轉變: 以香港嗇色園作爲研究個案

宗教社團如何從傳統社區走向現代社會，是宗教研究一個重要的課題。本文探討香港道教團體嗇色園如何從傳統道壇轉變為現代的宗教組織，並且提供各種慈惠救濟、醫療、教育和社會服務。本文指出，二十世紀五十、六十年代香港的社會環境，與嗇色園內部的組織改革，是其成功轉化成現代社會組織的重要因素。在今天，黃大仙祠是香港顯赫有名的道教宮觀，而嗇色園也是重要的慈善團體。在結論部份，本文討論嗇色園的實在和潛在社會功能，包括作為第三部門、創造社會資本和建構公民社會。

How religious communities adapt when societies evolve from tradition to modernity is an important topic of religious studies. This article examines how Sik Sik Yuen, a Daoist sect in Hong Kong, evolved from a traditional Taoist temple to become a modern religious organization, providing relief, medical, educational and social services. The author argues that the social environment in the 1950s and 1960s, together with organizational reform in Sik Sik Yuen itself, were crucial factors explaining how the sect successfully transformed itself into a modern organization. Today, Wong Tai Sin temple is a famous Daoist shrine in Hong Kong, and the Sik Sik Yuen, based at the temple, a key charitable organization. The author discusses the organization's social function as a member of the third sector, and its potential to create social capital and build civil society.