• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.17
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• pp.113-134
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• 2004

According to Hans Kippenberg, the foundation of an academic study of religions coincided with the beginnings of modernization. Since the second half of the nineteenth century most European countries were involved in a process of rapid social change. The repercussions that this had for daily life were momentous. Instead of working for their traditional needs, people now had to produce goods for a market. Old customs ceded to private contracts and political laws. The superior knowledge of science replaced the inherited worldview. This deep changed severed societies from their ties to the past. Many educated people in Europe believed in an imminent end of all religions. Had not the scientific progress superseded the religious worldview? Historians had to come to terms with that expectation when they directed their attention to historical religions. Friedrich Max Muller introduced a new science, so-called Religionswissenschaft through the study of the ancient Vedic sources. He thought that genuine religion was a taste for, and sense of, the infinite. From his point of view, the Indian sources confirm that nature is more than mechanical laws. Thus his interpretation sought to contradict the materialist ideology of his day. Edward Burnett Tylor described religions as a kind of natural philosophy. His notion of 'soul' functioned to explain natural events. This legacy of the past cannot be missed even in modern society. Only the concept of the soul may preserve human dignity in an age of materialism. Gerardus van der Leeuw, also tried to perform the same function of the cultural critique for the renewal of the religious imagination in modern, rationalized Europe imprisoned in the iron-cage. In this respect, we could think that the interpretations of the history of the History of Religions in the light of the intellectual history are very suggestive for the korean student of religion. It helps them to describe the early history of the study of religion in Korea. For example, Yi Neung Wha(李能和) is regarded as 'a father of korean religious studies, but no one could present a proper answer for the question of why and through which connection of his intellectual milieu he was interested in the religious history and the study of religion. We would discover its signification in his confrontation of the prevailing social thought, such as social evolutionism.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 1997

This thesis is a study on the properties of new religious ritual dress in Korea to help understand new religions more completely. A new religion means 'Newly born religions'and it is an opposite conception of the existing religion. The new religions in Korea have been established, changed and become extinct beginning with 'Dong-Hak'movement by Choi Jea Woo in 1860. Sometimes they've caused social problems with their number increasing after the rapid industrialization in 1970's. There are about 350 new religions and 2,000,000 christians in Korea now. Some of theme are pseudo religions wearing the mask of religion and also there are great new religions that will contribute to our spiritual history. The latter shows the thoughtful properties of the union of religion, postnatal creation, nation's independence, and human's centralization. There are properties of pluralism, nation's independence, symbolism, and thoughts in a new religious ritul dress.

• Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.129-151
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• 2023

The concept of interfaith harmony is one of the key issues for discussion in this contemporary world. It has multifaceted implications that range from pedagogical realms to global policy making. Here we focus on the basic concepts of interfaith harmony from Sikh and Cao Dai perspectives in order to address their viewpoints in regard to promoting culture of Peace and Understanding. Although these religions are new as compared to the existing living religions of the world, they found their new identity in the history of world religions for their unique concepts of interfaith harmony. In this article, the concept of interfaith harmony has been analyzed from two perspectives such as theological and socio-historical. For a systematic understanding of the subject matter, it has been categorized into three subpoints; unity of God, unity of religions and unity of humanity. Methodologically, the qualitative methodological framework of the proposed research is descriptive in nature. Thus, the present research has been primarily conducted by using secondary sources, although the crucial information is collected from primary sources such as the sacred texts of Sikhism and Caodaism. Since this study is done considering the social, political and religious contexts of India and Vietnam, it can contribute to the understanding of the nature of interfaith harmony in South and South-East Asia.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.52
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• pp.243-280
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• 2017

To the mid 19th from the early 20th century, there were many movements about religion in Korea society. Protestant which first flew in 1885 grew up greatly and Confucianism of traditional thought sought for religionization to survive. At once new religions named Korea ethnical religion appeared. They are Donghak(東學), Daejonggyo(大倧敎), Jeungsangyo(甑山敎) and Won-Buddhism. Generally speaking, these ethnical religions deeply relates with Korea original mental culture. In this paper, I want to infer that these religions have Korea origin metal culture. The first, I will consider some traditional thoughts of (1) worshiping of Heaven, (2) practice and (3) harmony from traditional (religious) ceremonies and thoughts. Ans then I will infer how these traditional thoughts from origin mental culture appear in ethnical religions of Donghak(東學), Won-Buddhism(圓佛敎), and Jeungsangyo(甑山敎).

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.17
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• pp.151-171
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• 2004

TAKAHASHI Toru (1878-1967) was one of the most significant Koreanologists in Japanese academic field. He was a professor of Kyeongseong Imperial University in the prewar period and Tenri University (department of Korean studies) in the postwar period. He was majored in Korean intellectual history and literature. His achievements, especially on Korean Confucianism and Buddhism, are still referred and influential. He wrote two pamphlets published by department of education of the Government-General of Korea in 1920. This year was a year after of 3.1 Independent Demonstration. This riot might have demanded Japanese governors to survey about Korean mentality and characteristics. One of outcomes was Chousenjin (Korean People). The pamphlet tried to explain the Korean character in the perspective of a essentialism in Korean race. The other was a simple outline about history of Korean religions entitled Chousen shukyoushi ni arawaretaru sinkou no tokushoku (The characteristics of faith in the history of Korean religions). He explained that Korean religions, especially its Buddhism, were easily influenced by political condition. These pamphlets seemed to be typically colonialistic, since such negative characteristics of Korean made Japanese colonial rule legitimated as the Mission of civilization and enlightenment. His discourses synchronized with the desire of Japanese Imperialism. This article attempted to analyze his discourses in the perspective of postcolonial critics and sociology of knowledge.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.22
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• pp.317-344
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• 2014

There are many modern elements in religions appeared in the early Korean modern era. From the nationalism perspective, most religions had tendencies toward anti-feudalism and anti-foreign power. Pak Eun Sik(朴殷植) emphasized the importance to explain those religions as the National Religion in his writing 《Korea Painful History(韓國痛史)》. That is, he realized those as one of Korean spirits or souls keeping Korean identities like the Jew's Judaism or the Turk's Islam. In the paper, I try to analyze religions on Kang Jeung San(姜甑山) with Daesoonjinri-hoe as the central figure from Pak's perspective. In the early Korean modern era when Kang went his own the Savior way, Korea and its society got into uncontrollable confusion because of strong demands both of a feudal-state breaking and against pillaging foreign-power especially Japan. For all countries of the world, it is difficult to change from a feudal state into the modern nation state to keep existing society order. Because the reformation under old social systems means the incomplete reformation. So in this era new religions showed the neglected class of people the vision of new society. Meanwhile Korean society try to become a modern state, and now became a recognized modern state in international society. But it is still insufficient to debate on groups and their roles for Korea modernity in that time especially new religions. Since Korea independence, new religions including Daesoonjinrihoe have not receive good reviews because of a certain religion group expansion and the government's regulation and control toward new religions. Till today, I think, Independence Movement as well as reform of modern awareness have not relatively receive reasonable reviews. So I hope to serve as a momentum that in early Korea modern era new religions receive reasonable and positive reviews.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.21
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• pp.409-452
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• 2013

This paper aims to cast light on the theoretical characteristics of Korean new religions' utopian theory from the perspective of theology and apply the findings to the utopian theory of the new religions in Korea. The utopian theory of the new religions in Korea occurred to meet people's aspiration towards a new world on the background of the national ordeal and its consequential psychology in the late Chosun dynasty. As a result, it has the characteristics of a shift from a pure religious framework to participation in reality to realize religious ideals 'right here, right now'. Thus, it basically defined an utopian theory as the product of a society and history, and explained the utopian theory as the projection of the thoughts about current conflicts. However, an approach in this way may leave the likelihood that the individual characteristics of Daesoonjinrihoe would be overlooked and the utopian theory would be limited to the byproduct of the age, only. Thus, this paper has dealt with the religious experience of the founders as the lead of discussion, not a sociological approach. In this context, the religious experience of founders can be more significant clues to view the characteristics of an utopian theory. This directivity of a study can be understood as an attempt to improve the previous sociological methodologies, the leading discourses, and to contribute to the different perspectives on an understanding of the utopian theories of Daesoonjinrihoe. Furthermore, this paper is anticipated to give salience to the individual characteristics reflected in the new religions in Korea and to enhance its status in the history of thoughts, not as the trend of the thought limited to the past.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.16
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• pp.87-103
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• 2003

Religions have the characteristics ultimately to solve the problems of human beings. These religions are externally expressed through the behaviors called rituals and contain substantially symbolic meanings. A ritual is a kind of transcendental experiences and infinite experience conducted in the reality and formalizes external behaviors in front of the presence of holy subject. Therefore, there is no religion without rituals. However, there are insignificant differences between religions or sects in performing rituals. The purpose of a ritual for human beings who have access to the holy world and this world is to keep their balances not to excessively indulge in this world. Moreover, a ritual plays the role to exercise strict control over the daily life of religious people who are in the holy world but easily tend to be accustomed to force of habit. These rituals are closely related to belief. Belief(Conviction) is one of core elements of religion. Belief as the unique activity among various behaviors of human beings illustrates another characteristics of human beings. The common efforts in the history of mankind to overcome cultural or geographical differences through existing religions can be represented by belief, that is, the faith. On the basis of background described above, this study aims to identify the meaning of rituals and dynamic structure of belief as examining the rituals of Daesoonjinrihoe.

• Journal of Daesoon Thought and the Religions of East Asia
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.171-173
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• 2022

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.58
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• pp.201-243
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• 2018

Understanding the theory of how a religion accepts the perspective on death is a prerequisite to grasp the identity and characteristics of such religion. Furthermore, contemplating the perspective on death, itself has a significant meaning as the contemplation provides an insight on how religion has, currently is and how it would influence the practical life of the human race. This current study compares and analyzes the perspective on death accepted by New Religions of Jeungsan, Confucianism and Taoism. By comparing the perspectives on death, this study seeks to conclude the similarity and discrepancy of New Religions of Jeungsan, Confucianism and Taoism. The objective of this study is to summarize the religious characteristic and identity of New Religions of Jeungsan, and the social role of New Religions of Jeungsan. How does New Religions of Jeungsan preach afterlife? This question implies varieties of questions including: In what shape or form does human exist in afterlife?; Does human maintain their original identity in afterlife?; What happens to relations with family members in afterlife?; What is one's role in afterlife, and what would one experience in afterlife? or Does soul transmigrate or are reborn? This current study compares the answers to these questions one by one with Confucianism and Taoism.In general, this current study was conducted with a non-religious methodology. Death can be explained in three different domains: the psychological domain explaining the individual psychological awareness upon encountering death; the philosophical-religious domain explaining the death through the philosophical understanding of the human concept; and the socio-cultural domain explaining death through the social ceremonies upon death.This current study focuses on the philosophical domain of the perspective on death accepted by New Religions of Jeungsan, with a comparison of the socio-cultural significance. To understand the perspective on death preached by New Religions of Jeungsan, It is indispensable to explain the five key elements of Hon(魂), Baek (魄), Shin(神), Young(靈) and Seon(仙) that construe death. The perspective on death preached by New Religions of Jeungsan imposes a multi layer of acceptance and overcoming. This current study complements the problems and limits of previous studies by comparison with Confucianism and Taoism. Throughout this process, this current study intends to highlight the key elements of the perspective on death preached by Deasunjinrihoe, and identify the aspects of each key element. With the sophisticated discussion of the perspective on death provided by New Religions of Jeungsan with clarity, this current study will provide grounds for future studies to extract, in detail, the aspects of the perspective on death preached by New Religions of Jeungsan, in further subjects including: discussions on death such as rituals for death, treatment of bodies, funerals, educating death, euthanasia, or suicide; discussions on the existence of hell; discussions on psychological aspects of ones who encounter death; or discussions on rebirth of those who died during the creation era. This current study will provide an overview on what kind of perspective on death does those who are faithful to New Religions of Jeungsan have and currently are living their life with.