本論文欲從與黃天道相關的歷史文獻與寶卷，討論黃天道在明清的整體發展與表現，試圖從中分析各民間宗教結社的多元性與歧異，藉以瞭解黃天道教案發生的原因與其教義所呈現「三期末劫」的末世觀念無關，實與「聚眾結社」、「夜聚曉散」的群體行為有所關連，而這也是帝國官方取締民間宗教結社的主要因素之一。此外，也重新檢討過往「千年王國」理論框架是否還能繼續適用中國宗教與群眾叛亂兩者之間發展關係，並應當予以修正，以免忽略掉明清諸多民間宗教結社的特殊性與個別追求目標的不同。因此，本論文以黃天道的個案研究，從歷史、神話、教義、教規、儀式等討論黃天道的信徒在明清兩朝係扮演一群安居樂業的群眾，而非帶有改朝換代的政治性企圖。並且，進一步從社群、經濟、文化、醫療四個面向，瞭解黃天道的宗教性表現實與當時社會密切相關，絕非狂妄悖離的「邪教」，係中國大傳統中的地方小傳統。

本文以一貫道這個源自中國的救度宗教傳統，傳到台灣發展的歷程，以及其所展現的宗教思想與實踐，著重於組織發展、教義與倫理、以及宗教與政治社會脈絡的對話，並透過梳理這個過程，成為進一步理解一貫道宗教實踐特色的基礎。一貫道曾在台灣曾遭禁三十餘載（1951-1987），但其信仰並未熄滅，在戒嚴與遭禁的情境下生存下來，發展至今成為頗具規模的宗教。在遭禁下與解禁後的發展，一貫道的宗教實踐有越趨儒教化、強調道德教化的趨勢，本文認為這個取向是特定歷史過程與文化脈絡交織下的產物，並伴隨著政治機會結構而逐漸浮現。因此本文以「道德政治」（moral politics）作為觀察一貫道宗教實踐的顯微鏡，試圖掌握一貫道實踐中道德的策略性與展演性，看到信眾如何透過詮釋道德、運用道德符號與實踐道德的方法，達到延續宗教組織、獲得宗教實踐的正當性、擴大宗教社群、推廣一貫道的宗教品牌等效果。本研究主要以一貫道的一個分支基礎忠恕為主要案例，同時參考不同組線分支的案例，以期本研究有更寬廣的視野。 / The task of the thesis is trying to interpret and analyze the praxis of a salvationist religion I-Kuan-Tao (一貫道, also written as ‘Yiguandao’) in Taiwan which originates from China and inherits the tradition of “Chinese Sectarianism”, and concentrates on the transformation of I-Kuan-Tao’s religious organization, doctrine and ethics, and dialogue with the context of the political society. I-Kuan-Tao had been prohibited by Kuomintang from 1951 to 1987, but the belief continued growing under the banned situation and Martial Law, and developed into a thrived religion after it gained legal status. The praxis of I-Kuan-Tao orientates Confucianism and emphasizes the significance of moral, which is a product of characteristic historical process, cultural contexts, and the political opportunities. The thesis develops the concept “moral politics” to describe the performance and strategy of moral in religious praxis of I-Kuan-Tao. I consider that “moral” as a maneuverable symbolic capital which further helps us to comprehend the dialectical relationship between those factors. Therefore, it will demonstrate how believers maintain and reproduce I-Kuan-Tao community, gain the legitimacy of religious praxis, promote the brand of religion and subsequently utilize their agency. The thesis focuses on Jichu Zhongshu(基礎忠恕) branch as the main case, and also compares with other branches for a broader view.

一貫道在臺灣的傳道環境與過去在中國時已有相當大的改變，除了政治經濟環境的改變之外，民眾的知識水平與社會連帶也與過往大不相同，這些原因都促使當代台灣的一貫道，發展出了有別於在中國時的宣道與辦道方式。本研究從教義、組織與宗教倫理實踐三個面相來探討，臺灣一貫道如何轉變承襲自中國傳統文化中救度宗教的特質，使其更能適應當代社會。而戰後受到一貫道與當局的政教關係與當時傳道背景的影響，臺灣一貫道約分為十八個支線，各自有其發展特色。在無法窮盡所有臺灣一貫道的個案情況之下，以在當代較常參與公共事務的兩個組線——發一組與寶光組），作為調查訪談的田野。研究結果顯示，當代一貫道朝向更入世化與制度化轉型，使教義從追求彼世的極樂，轉而更著重於此世的關注。而在天命領導制度的傳承上，則更加的制度化一改救贖恩寵源自於一人的傳統。而在宗教倫理的實踐上，除了更貼近儒家的淑世行動之外，更朝公共宗教的特質發展。總而言之，一貫道在當代社會之中，逐漸捨去巫術、情感性與人格化的特質，而朝更理性、除魅與入世的方向發展。 / How to adapt the complicated and quickly changing world for the traditional religion? It is the major concern for those religions in the contemporary world. This dissertation will use the Yi Guan Dao (一貫道) as the empirical source to discuss such question. Because of the transition of the political economic environment, the improvement of the knowledge level of individual and the change of social solidarity, the missionary condition of Yi Guan Dao in Taiwan has lots of difference compared to the condition when Yi Guan Dao in China, forcing the missionary of Yi Guan Dao to change their way of missions and preach in Taiwan. This dissertation will use three factors, which are doctrine, religious organization and the practice of religious ethics, to discuss how the Yi Guan Dao transferring its character inherit from the Chinese Salvationist religion to make it much suitable for the modern society in Taiwan. Due to the social and political context after world war II, there are 18 Sect of Yi Guan Dao in Taiwan, however, this dissertation will choose the most representative two (Fa Yi Sect and Bao-Guang Sec) as the field of fieldwork. The research result shows that the contemporary Yi Guan Dao has transferred to more engaged and institutionalized than they used to be. In this vein, their doctrine has transferred from focusing on the bliss of afterlife to put more attention on this life; In their inherited of the leading system of Mandate of Heaven, it becomes more institutionalized than used to, which focusing on the traditions that the redemption grace is originated from the only one. In their practice of religious ethics, besides more close to the idea of refining of the world from the Confucianism, they also have the characteristic of public religion. In general, the Yi Guan Dao in the contemporary society, they losing their character of witchcraft, affectivity, and anthropomorphization, becoming more rationalized, more disenchantment and more engaged to the secular world.