近年來台灣受過高等教育的知識份子，熱中參與新興宗教及擬似宗教的修煉團體。本研究的目的是希望瞭解受世俗理性教育下的知識份子，為何會投入民間教派的靜坐修煉活動，並討論當初學習靜坐的動機與需求，以及對宗教是否有另一套科學－理性的理解模式。 本研究採質性研究取向，以天帝教中知識份子為個案，透過參與觀察、非結構式訪談及文獻分析等方法，試圖瞭解天帝教知識份子參與靜坐修煉的歷程，包括學習靜坐的動機，在修煉過程中的神秘經驗、社會關係的轉變，以及參與信仰論述合理化的行動。 研究發現學習靜坐的動機可分為「解決問題取向」及「非解決問題取向」，前者是被迫要解決具危機感的問題與麻煩；後者為了滿足生命更高的需求層次。靜坐改變以小我為中心世界觀，轉向注重大我，因此家庭關係跟人際關係都趨向和諧，人生觀也從追求個人成就轉向謀求眾人福祉。至於從單純靜坐學習者到成為融入組織的虔信者，中間轉換過程是經由突然跳躍的意識。 最後，本文也指出三項天帝教知識份子對於自我角色的定位模式，藉此凸顯他們在不同知識系統間如何加自我調適，乃至於說明當代知識份子跟宗教團體間的關係及其角色。 關鍵詞：新興宗教、天帝教、知識份子、靜坐、宗教經驗 / Recent years in Taiwan, new religions and religion-like spiritual practice cults appeal to higher educated intellectuals. The main purpose of this study is to realize why these science-ration educated intellectuals were enthusiastic in sectarian religious practice. In this study we discussed their motivation and need for learning meditation. Further more, we'd also like to know whether they have some kind of science-ration patterns of cognition on their religion belief and practice. By case study on The Lord of Universe Church (T'ienti Chiao), a qualitative aspect, such as participant observation, non-structed interview and literature analysis is employed by this study, which tries to understand the process of the intellectuals among the Lord of Universe Church participating in meditation practice, including their motivation of learning meditation, mystical experience of“CHI”, changing of relationships, and the construction of rationalizing belief discourse. Key Words: new religions/ The Lord of Universe Church (The T'ientVs Teachings/ T'ienti Chiao)/ intellectuals/ meditation practice (Quiet Sitting)/ religious experience