In Taiwan, the gods have a grip on politics

Taiwan is replete with Taoist temples: sacred grounds where the faithful seek blessings. Recently, politicians have been seeking both the gods’ and voters’ favor. When election season was in high gear before a big vote in January, candidates were converging on temples, demonstrating their piety to the public. The World’s Patrick Winn followed a would-be lawmaker facing a tough race, as she campaigned at a Taoist temple.

This story originally aired in December 2023.