現代性與民間信仰構成一種弔詭。一方面,現代化提升理性,對宗教信仰,尤其是民間信仰會有壓制之作用。但另一方面,隨著現代性的進程,我們又看到各種民俗信仰似乎有增無減。本研究援用傅科「治理性」的概念,嘗試解釋現代性與民間信仰之間的弔詭。簡單地說,我們認為台灣在1970年代當社會邁向現代化時,包括民間寺廟在內的各種宗教組織就開始以一種現代企業經營的方式在經營宗教,積極創造民眾對宗教的需求,進而創造了民間宗教各種興旺的景象。我們透過對一個地方公廟儀式變遷的紀錄和分析,嘗試呈現台灣宗教治理的軌跡,並透由涂爾幹對「巫術」的分析,提出「巫術社群」的概念,藉以分析宗教治理技術運作下的社會關係。我們認為,「巫術社群」是現代社會關係的原型,具現了現代民間社會的組織與運作。最後,我們從規範與價值的角度切入,分析「巫術社群」的人文意涵,並提出對「現代性」的倫理反思。
Modernity and folk religion constitute a paradox. On the one hand, modernity enhances rationality, which should inevitably inhibit beliefs toward religion, especially folk religion. On the other hand, various types of religious behaviors seem to increase, rather than decrease in face of modernization. In this paper, we employ Foucault's concept of ”governmentality” to solve the paradox between modernity and folk religion. Simply put, since 1970s when modernity unfolded in Taiwan, various types of religious organizations, including folk temples had started to appropriate methods of modern enterprise to manage their business. It is argued that this new type of religious governance actively created demands for religion, and resulted in the increase of religious behaviors as observed. We use data about changes in ritual practice from a local temple to detail the process and the mechanism of religious governance. In analyzing the process of religious governance, and inspired by Durkheim's ideas of magic, we propose a concept called ”magical community” to designate the social relations not only under religious governance in particular, but also under modern governance as a whole. In other words, ”magical community” is the prototype of every kind of social relations in modern society. It is here that we see the very meaning of govermentality in our modern age. In the end, we explore the meaning of ”magical community”, and reflect on the ethical problems of modernity.