• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.18
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• pp.165-189
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• 2004

In this paper I try to understand the meaning of "water" which plays an important role in the novels by Syusaku Endo and Sokyu Genyu. These two Japanese writers also have a deep interest in the interreligious dialogue, especially in the encounter between Christianity and the Buddhism. By analyzing Hukai Kawa(1993) of Endo and Mizu no Hesaki(2001) of Genyu, this paper sheds light on the symbolic meaning of "water", which I believe could contribute creatively to the theological debate on the religious pluralism.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.65
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• pp.29-54
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• 2021

In Europe, the diversity in religions, cultures, languages and historical backgrounds is enormous. World War II and the Soviet Regime have played a large part in this and the flow of refugees from other continents increases the pluralism. How can religious education add to bridging between differences? The language across European countries is different, literally between countries, but also figuratively speaking and even inside individual countries. These differences occur in cultural sense and across age groups as well. Secondary education has the task to form young people to become firmly rooted people who can hold their own in society. It is essential that they learn to examine their own core values and their roots. Recognising their values should be a main focus of religious education. However, schools are currently accommodating increasing numbers of non-religious pupils. What role do religious values still play in this situation? How do pupils feel about active involvement in religious institutions, and about basing life choices on religious beliefs? Can other, non-religious values be detected which could form the basis for value-oriented personal formation? Research of these subjects has been ongoing in the Netherlands for more than twenty years and is currently being expanded to the Czech Republic and(former East) Germany. These are also secularized countries but have a very different history. Does the history and context of these countries play a role, and does this show in the values that are important to pupils? A comparative pilot study is being conducted as start of this broadening perspective geared towards greater insight into the values of pupils in these three European countries. This information helps to design appropriate new forms of religious value-oriented worldview education.

• 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 the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.44
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• pp.141-175
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• 2023

This comparative study combines the methodologies of comparative research and literature review to examine Daesoon Thought. Comparative religious analysis in the social sciences, does not presuppose an a priori framework of the essence of religion because it targets various aspects of religion which are revealed within a historical field. However, it does not decompose and return to psychological or social phenomena like social sciences. In addition, with the emergence of religious pluralism, the climate of focusing on similarities between religions has already been accomplished to some degree. Furthermore, it is worth noting that many spiritual movements in modern spirituality reveal mixed or amorphous characteristics without being restricted by specific religious membership. It is time to overcome instrumentation and restore the transcendence of its original appearance even in secular humanist reasoning. It can be said that this reveals the perception that the ills and crises of modern civilization should be overcome in connection with the opening of the acquired world of Daesoon Thought. It could further be said that the main culprit of evil behavior is instrumental reason or degenerated reason rather than spirituality. Religion is the intellectual crystalline body of humankind and aims at human perfection and salvation. However, extremists in previous times amplified conflicts between religions and formed ideas suitable for their specific regions through different experiences. This generated mental rifts that proved greatly influential. At the time of initial inception, each religion confronted and fought other ideologies, but when the era of religious pluralism began, the necessity for inter-spiritual communication became urgent. It could be said that happiness is the realization of human spirituality by exploring the vision of humanism. In that case, the combined methodologies of comparative research and literature review reveal that the spirituality of Daesoon Thought would enable a humanism based on human dignity. This would be a path for seeking spirituality through human life and living as a true human being. Spiritual humanism as discussed through this study aims to share the problems of modern civilization and provide a critical view of modern civilization that shows the roots of prevailing thought are stuck in a Cartesian dualistic view of humanity and the world. The type of spiritual humanism to examined here focuses on a cosmotheandric vision by considering the spiritual return to Daoism via Daesoon Thought. This would treat human beings like heaven in alignment with Donghak ideology and honor the human dignity proposed by Daesoon Thought. It would also deliver sentient beings from suffering and to bliss in accordance with the aims of faith in Maitreya Buddha, and it would implement the Resolution of Grievances for Mutual Beneficence in fulfillment of Daesoon Thought.

• Iberoamérica
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-30
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• 2020

Recently, in the conservative wave in Latin America, the political participation of the conservative Pentecostal Church has been highlighted. This article analyzes the impact of this political participation on democracy and its development, based on the case of Brazil. First, the Pentecostal churches contributed greatly to religious pluralism, but show an exclusive and aggressive attitude toward other religions and ideologies. Also, in the process of selecting official candidates, most members of the churches are politically mobilized according to the unilateral decisions of the leadership, and these elected candidates serve the specific corporatist interests of their own denomination or church rather than the public interest. In addition, the purpose of political participation to obtain public offices is also a stumbling block to the development of democracy in Brazil by placing it in the direct realization of a specific religious interests or values of the rebuilding of the Christian kingdom.

• 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.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.68
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• pp.279-306
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• 2021

This paper intends to say that children's worship as a liturgy for children living in modern society is an important place to support children's personal development and experience of coziness necessary for their personal development. To this end, this thesis first regards modern society as an unstable society, analyzes fluid society and individualism as the causes, and deals with changes in educational style accordingly. In a fluid society, children are not provided with a solid form and lasting environment that supports personality development, and the education style changed under the influence of individualism and pluralism requires a heavy task of determining the direction of one's life and constantly making choices and decisions. Therefore, children need rules and forms that help them live together, and they need a space that can give them comfort that helps them develop their personality. As an argument for this, second, this paper deals with the concept and function of the liturgy in order to understand the worship of children as the liturgy. The third deals with the elements necessary for the development of children's personality that can be experienced in children's worship. First, it deals with the meaning of religious, aesthetic, and communal driving forces that children can experience in children's worship, focusing on Eberhard's research. In addition, it deals with the meaning of language and expression methods provided in children's worship, and finally, it says that children's worship can be a space where you can experience stability and coziness. Through this, it is emphasized that children's worship can play an important role in supporting the personal development of children living in modern times.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.61
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• pp.131-164
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• 2020

This study analyzes the Trinitarian principles of Christian education through the neo-orthodox theology of Karl Barth, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Paul Tillich in the current era of postmodernism. Both neo-orthodoxy and postmodernism react against the epistemological ideals of modernity. Postmodernism is based on a limited human point of view, and thus becomes a captive to its own subjectivity, producing two main characteristics - pluralism and relativism. Since neo-orthodoxy appeared as a reaction against human-centered modernity, critical analysis of neo-orthodox theology can give insights to cope with the challenges of postmodernism in Christian education today. Thus, this study bases its argument critically on the thoughts of neo-orthodox theologians such as Karl Barth, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Paul Tillich, since they responded to the challenges of enlightenment through rediscovering fundamental theological principles. First of all, this study examined the meaning of God's creation and the fall and provided the principle of theistic relativism. Secondly, this study explored educational insights from Jesus' crucifixion, through His work of redemption, liberation, and restoration and suggests an incarnated relationship building. Thirdly, the study analyzed the caring and comforting work of the Holy Spirit and emphasized the power of the Holy Spirit that heals corrupted human reason and enables loving relationships.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.494-504
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• 2014

This is a study of Hick's self-described Christological 'Copernican revolution.' Since Hick as a former Christian theologian did not want to reject one of the core Christian doctrines(incarnation), he presented his copernican revolution in terms of Agape Christology, an inspiration Christology and myth Christology through his Christological reinterpretation. Thus Hick's Christologies that are developed gradually are discussed and evaluated chronologically. First, agape Christology understands that the incarnation is taking place all the time in different degrees everywhere. As a result agape Christology makes Jesus as a mere human being. Second, an paradox of grace or inspiration Christology views the incarnation as the Spirit of God enabling people to fulfill the will of God by their free responses. This Christology assumes that divine incarnation can occur anywhere and anytime in any person. Thus, according to this, Jesus is not literally God incarnate as Christian claims. Third, myth Christology views that the incarnation is not literal but mythological. Though he prefers to use metaphor in his later writings because it has a more positive connotation than myth, myth and metaphor have one thing in common: they are neither literal nor historical. Hick's mythological Christology implies the denial of Jesus Christ as God incarnate. Accordingly, the researcher must conclude that Hick's Christology as copernican revolution cannot said to be a perfect solution for today's religious situation, even though it was a sincere try to communicate with pluralistic world.