동서 종교간 충돌과 현대 한국의 역동적 신앙

Abstract

The most outstanding characteristics of the religious situation in contemporary Korea can be said to be the following: First, the religious population is large and is currently increasing rapidly. Second, in a situation of a multi-religious coex istence no particular religion takes precedence over another, but Western religions are challenging and gradually overwhelming Eastern religions. In this paper I argue that these two features are closely related to each other. That is, compared with other countries, in Korea religions are growing rap idly and with unusual enthusiasm, and this has emerged from the unprecedented inter-religious clash th at developed between Eastern and Western religions. In order to examine this clash hypothesis from a comparative perspective, I have analyzed new religious movements, namely, Eastern Learn ing, Jeungsangyo and the Unification Church and the phenomenon of the Pentecostal Protestantism focusing on Yoido Full Gospel Church. These can be said to be the dominant religions in Korean religious innovation of modern times. The conclusions of my examination are: 1. Inter-religious clash often produces competitive situations making existing belief systems and symbolism precarious and this, in tum, causes social instability. Such situations create a dynamic religious energy. 2. The more alien and larger the religions clash, the greater its resulting impact. In the case that existing religions are overwhelmed, the clash will have more transformative potential. In this context, it might be said that Korea, hidden away as a country of "morning calm," has changed into a country of religious fervor from its clashes against Western religions since the beginning of the modem period.