宜蘭擺厘陳家是宜蘭地區由移墾狀態發展迄今的歷程當中，宗族結構大致完整、仍然有宗族性質的活動、後代綿延不斷且頗具成就的少數幾個世家大族之一。就大歷史的觀點而言，透過擺厘陳家的例子，不但可以觀察整個蘭陽平原地區的開發過程，甚至有助於進一步釐清清代以來臺灣移民史與宗族發展史上的一些細節。從微觀的角度來看，則可以明瞭一個由宗族同姓村所構成的社區之基本形貌，以及宗教信仰做為一個處於移墾狀態下的宗族同姓村的社區整合機制，在該社會環境中適應與生存上有何功能。本文即以宜蘭擺厘陳家為例，說明社會性質的轉變與宗教信仰之間存在什麼樣的關係；並據之分析陳家的信仰特質。

The Chen lineage in Baili, Ilan is a Chinese lineage and single surname village. It is also one of the few lineages in Ilan County that still remains traditional lineage structure and functions. In the process of land cultivation in Ilan Plain and Chinese immigration from mainland China to Ilan Plain of Taiwan, single surname Chinese lineage and temple community may be the basic social struture to maintain the social order. As a Chinese lineage and a temple community, the study of Chen lineage can reveal the complex relations between kinship, religion, social constitution, and sociality.