A Pluralistic Approach to Religious Education in a Mission Schools

ABSTRACT

Religious culture plays a very grave role in defining and shaping of a society and era. We alr eady live in a plur al r eligious society wher e no ideology or belief can solely lead a society. In future, diversity and individuality will be even more widely spread, thus leading to a world where no single religion will become ‘the only one standing’. Especially in a society like Korea, where religious diversity is so distinct, Religious education as a general education should be considered carefully. Therefore in this paper I would like to look into the problems of Religious education as a general education in Korea’s secondary school as well as the changing history of curriculum of Korea. Mor eover I would like to look into the fact that whether the Religious education really does have their intended value as general education. Also I will look into curriculum of DaeJin University’s Religious department in order to figure out about training of teachers in fields of DaeSoonjinrihoe. By looking into these facts we can see that Religious education as general education should not be used as means of missionary work. Also since religious education as subject is legally carried out solely on the hands of school, it should remain only in curriculum of Korea’s secondary school. Religious education should remain as a education for all, in order to shape the ‘right person’ which all religion suggests. Thus Korea’s Religious education should remain neutral and unbound to any religion. So a class of Religious education in a school with connection to a religion should focus not on that specific religion which the school is connected to, but on training students to understand and how to live together with other religions. Meaning that Religious education that allows ,people of different religious belief to talk freely and coexist, is crucial to out society today. And this remains in the fact that whether Religious education can find it’s place in Korea’s secondary education.