A Study on the Religious Perception about Catholicism by common people in Korea

ABSTRACT

This study aims to clarify whether the Catholic church of Korea has become one of the genuine religions of Korean people. The target of the research is the common people of Korea, among them catholics including. The backgrounds of the research are following: Firstly, we hope that the Catholic church becomes one of the genuine religions of Korea. Secondly, we hope that Koreans realize mutual respect and deep understanding in a multi-religious society. Thirdly, we hope that Korean religions establish constructive co-existence and cooperation. To do this kind of research I try to use following methods. The research contents are the analysis of religious perception about Catholicism by common people in Korea. Anyhow I limit the boundary of the research in recently made social surveys on the topic of Korean religions, including catholics and non-catholics. So I would like to show various facets of Catholic church in Korea, as the result of profound investigation. We can expect from this kind of research to get useful information for the sake of introspection about past times, examination of the present days and vision gaining for the bright future. For the concerned scholars we can provide good knowledge for correct understanding about catholicism in Korea as it is. Inside church itself, I suppose it will be helpful to set up the pastoral master-plan. In the national dimension, this study gives worthy and objective data for better understanding about catholic church in the religiously pluralistic society.