• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.47
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• pp.163-190
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• 2017

This paper studies the recent surge in the number of faith-based films in Hollywood, with the aim to explore the context and implications of this new trend. By using the theoretical framework of the study of the Tilich and Van der Leeuw, who have explored the relationship between religion, culture and art, this article discusses the meaning of the spiritual theme in the film. A couple of common points can be found among the faith-based films that have been produced since the 2010s. While these films attempt a universal approach to the fundamental theme of spirituality through popular narratives familiar to the audience, they also stress 'historical truthfulness and credibility' by representing the reality, such as a featuring real person or a true story in the film. The main characters are depicted as "victorious losers" that are distinguished from the typical Hollywood superhero and the films repeatedly show the human being constantly 'asking' questions to God. By analyzing these characteristics, the paper demonstrates that recent Hollywood faith-based films have successfully differentiated themselves from existing religious films while symbolizing the universal beliefs and values beyond the religious message so as to attract more audiences to this field. The paper also suggests that despite the advances in modern science and knowledge, the public will always yearn for a spiritual recovery and salvation through the film medium, serving as a potential source that provides an outlet for spiritual experience.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.40 no.5 s.110
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• pp.553-570
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• 2005

On Kyeryong Mountain, different religious(or ideological) groups have endowed space and place with amalgams of different meanings, uses and values. In addition to Buddhism and Confucianism, Shamanism and other popular beliefs have practiced their own ideologies(or powers) to create and maintain their own territories and identities. The geographies of resistance, involving Shamanism, have been scattered all over the mountain, discontinuous in the territorialization. These geographies of resistance could be identified the best around the most sacred sites, such as Sambulbong, Amyongch'u and Sutyongch'u. The entanglement of Shamanism with Buddhism, in various patterns through space and time, has indeed contributed to the survival of Shamanism as a subordinate power.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.321-342
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• 2016

Most of records in the catholic church archives are not only meaningful records of religion but also crucial information for history and various cultural studies. Although the catholic archives are regarded as the fundamental information resources for various studies, they are not easily accessible yet. Current online services of catholic archives were categorized by three types and online services of catholic archives were investigated in the three aspects, structure and design, contents, and interface. The major problem of current online services is the lack of digital contents, so this study suggested 5 steps for digital contents development to utilize online services of catholic archival information.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.139
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• pp.239-263
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• 2016

Today manny contemporaries struggle to live because they disregard essential matters and indulge in materialism. They should not pursue wealth and prosperity and ought to find true meaning of life by studying death where one can reveal the essence of life. Zhuang Zi transcended death. His view of death is magnificent. This dissertation has ruminated on how contemporaries live and established righteous view of life and death on the basis of that. In addition, this study has researched what implications his view of death suggests to us today. There is no study as good as death. There is no great teacher as good as death in life. Studying death is studying a life. We can find life meaning and value through death. The matter of death is prone to be thought that a solution can be got only though existing religions. However, when it comes to Zhuang Zi's death, the matter of death can be resolved, not relying on religions. Zhuang Zi has played a role of our taking death in a positive way and relieving the fear of death. He has taught us that it is well off to adapt to the change of nature, leading to meeting our death in comfort.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.40
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• pp.1-38
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• 2022

The aim of this research is to discover the value of peace conveyed by Haewon Sangsaeng, the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence, as espoused by Holy Teacher Kang Jeungsan (姜甑山, 1871~1909) and to evaluate its modern significance. To the faithful, Jeungsan is seen as the Supreme God who descended into the world in the Late Joseon Dynasty in the year 1871. Until the time of His passing away into Heaven in 1909, He vastly saved the world and fulfilled the hopes of humankind by carrying out the fundamentally innovative Reordering Works of Heaven and Earth (1901~1909) in the Three Realms of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. He has thereby been appraised as a great religious figure within religious and academic circles. Jeungsan's ideological contributions can be summarized into two main points. One is the concept of 'the Great Opening and the Later World,' which foreshadowed the liquidation of the old system of order and the arrival of a new world. The other contribution is the concept of 'the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence,' a fundamental principle meant to achieve human salvation and world peace. In this context, 'the Great Opening' is precisely a 'positivistic religious expression of peace,' and 'the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence' is the principle by which 'peace can be achieved in the world for all humankind.' In particular, the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence is a tenet within the doctrine of Daesoon Jinrihoe, and it is the main concept that forms the basis of Daesoon Thought. It can be said to be the core current that flows through Jeungsan's Reordering Works of Heaven and Earth. Nowadays, the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence is being discussed and cited in various ways in academic fields as well as in discourse on coexistence, mutual beneficence, and peace. The Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence is specifically based on observations of the structure of conflicts as observed throughout world history via global conflicts, regional conflicts, cultural conflicts, ideological conflicts, class conflicts, generational conflicts, racial conflicts, religious conflicts, and other such conflicts. That is why the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence is discussed in depth within academic settings wherein the nature of conflict-resolution is examined. Looking at the previous studies on this topic, those studies tended to focus on key concepts or concerns such as human beings, divine beings, the earthly paradise of the Later World, ideal societies, world peace, new principles of order, and lasting peace. In particular, the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence has been presented as directly related to concepts such as love, coexistence, harmony, and peace for humankind and the world. Its significance has been applied to ethics, philosophy, order, and principles, and it has been understood as conveying values such as peace. Accordingly, this paper examines the ideological connections to the succession and establishment of Jeungsan's notion of the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence based on previous research, but further examines the value of peace communicated via the principles and ideas that pervade current discourse on the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence. I hope to thoroughly explore Haewon Sangsaeng in regards to its modern significance to the world and to humankind.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1186-1198
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• 2011

The understanding of real-world application of scientific knowledge such as the evolutionary theory has been emphasized in science curriculum. Despite this, many students and biology educators misunderstand the use and practical application of the evolution theory. The purpose of this study is to explore variables related to the understanding of practical application of evolution. Methodologically, we employed large-scale survey that examined three independent variables (major, academic year, and religion) and five dependent variables (understanding of practical application of evolution, knowledge of, interest in, and acceptance of evolution, and religiosity). Two hundred and thirty three biology pre-service teachers and 405 non-biology pre-service teachers participated in the survey. The results demonstrate that the biology teacher education program does not help in increasing the understanding of the practical application of evolution. Rather, the understanding of practical application of evolution was associated with their religion. In addition, the understanding of the practical application of evolution was associated with the acceptance of and interest in evolution. The results of this study inform the development of new biology teacher education programs to improve their understanding of practical application of the evolution theory. We also suggest further areas of research for other scientific concepts that could be used to gauge teachers' understanding of the practical application of scientific knowledge.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.313-342
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• 2016

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between individual values, nature-relatedness, and happiness in a sample of Korean university students(N=224). Specially, we used Schwartz's PVQ, life satisfaction, positive affect, psychological well-being, social well-being, and Korean Happiness scale to measure values and happiness. According to the bivariate correlational analysis, generally, there were positive correlation between benevolence, self-direction, universalism, stimulation and one of 5 happiness measurements and there was negative correlation between achievement and life satisfaction. Nature-relatedness were positively related with five types of happiness measurements. According to the hierarchical regression, demographic variables(sex, religion, economic levels), value types, and nature-relatedness explained 25%~36% of variance in happiness. Value was more related with psychological well-being than life satisfaction, positive affect, social well being, Korean happiness scale. This results emphasize the importance of healthy value(benevolence, self-direction) and provision of opportunities contact with nature to promote human happiness.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.49
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• pp.187-227
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• 2024

The purpose of this article is to examine the prospects of the religious cultural experience program of Daesoon Jinrihoe by referring to the current status of Korea's Buddhist temple stays, which began with the 2002 World Cup and have become a regular program for the general public with the establishment of the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism in 2004. The motivation for Korean participation is mainly rest, while foreigners tend to be more interested in Korean traditional culture. During the experience, the perceived value felt by the participants led to satisfaction and an intention to revisit. Temple stays have contributed to the globalization of Korean Buddhism. The temple stay of Daesoon Jinrihoe is a religious cultural experience program for the public. If it became a regular program, the target could be expanded to include foreigners who wish to experience Korean culture. The activities such as wearing Hanbok, taking a Dojang Tour, praying, and dialogue over tea can be allocated to the program. As a result, the perceived value by participants could be taken as a cognitive value. For instance, they could learn about Sangje's Reordering of the Universe that transformed the order of Sanggeuk (Mutual Contention) into the order of Sangsaeng (Mutual Beneficence). They way that they live their lives could change as a result of these new understandings. The emotional value of the experience would come from experiencing traditional Korean religious culture. The prospect of implementing such a program is twofold: firstly, there are the tasks of proper preparation, and secondly, there are the positive effects. The tasks would first involve creating a systematic and organized center point. Next there would be the matter of preparing spaces for the temple stay, and lastly, an online platform for advertisement, recruitment, and application would also be greatly beneficial. This is a vision that could contribute to the improving public image of the order, its globalization, and to the overall improvement of the facilities and management that would produce a more socially friendly environment.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.70
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• pp.175-206
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• 2022

In this study, a mixed research method that collects and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data together was used to broaden the understanding of young children's faith. First of all, the contents of interviews with 18 research participants were divided into categories, and the frequency of each category was calculated. From 75 statements made in the interview, the importance of each was evaluated with a 5-point Likert scale. The means and standard deviations of the evaluation score were calculated, and sub-factors were identified through exploratory factor analysis. The frequency of categories mentioned in the qualitative interview was in the following order: faith manifested in difficulties, religious activities, Christian education at home, Christian education in the church, love and faith in God, and the formation of a Christian worldview (identity). The statement on the perception of God, theological concepts, religious activities, and Christian education at home and in the church received high scores. On the other hand, statements on developmentally difficult or abstract content, value judgment or conflict resolution based on the Word, and evangelism showed low scores. The sub-factors extracted through factor analysis were faith education through home and church, awareness of God and religious activities, identity based on the gospel, character based on the gospel, and overcoming a crisis through faith. In conclusion, the results of each of the mixed methods of looking at young children's faith were very similar-relationships with God, religious activities, Christian worldview (identity), Christian education at home and church were highlighted, even though various methods were used. This study is meaningful in that it suggests what and how to teach in early childhood Christian education.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.45
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• pp.103-151
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• 2023

This study aims to examine the International Development Cooperations (IDCs) of Daesoon Jinrihoe and discuss the future prospects of these programs in terms of Daesoon Thought. The international community calls for the active participation of various donors, and this is not limited to only traditional donors such as governments, public institutions, and multilateral organizations. In this regard, the role of Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for religious communities is recognized as important. Daesoon Jinrihoe has systematized its IDCs by expanding its overseas services to implement the three major works with the official establishment of the Daejin International Volunteers Association (DIVA) in 2013. In addition to these activities, Daesoon Jinrihoe was selected by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in 2022. As a new religion, Daesoon Jinrihoe does not provide as much support via FBOs when compared to other traditional religions (Christianity, Buddhism, Catholicism, etc.), but it is able to conduct strategic IDCs by utilizing its expertise and capabilities (education, healthcare, etc.). In fact, the nature and content of the projects carried out by these FBOs and Daesoon Jinrihoe are similar, and the results have been remarkable considering that these programs are still in their infancy. Above all, Daesoon Jinrihoe's foreign aid is more meaningful because it does not have a religious purpose such as missionary work, and it is funded by donations from believers. In carrying out IDCs, it is necessary to promote the professionalism of IDCs based on the strategic linkage of the three major works (charity aid, social welfare, and education). It is also necessary to recognize the value and spirit of IDCs for peace and coexistence based on mutual beneficence.