Politics and Religious Education in the perspective of Won-Buddhism(Wonbulgyo)

ABSTRACT

In ancient human societies, religion, as the foundation of human civilization, and the State were unified. Religion had an important role of spreading religious beliefs by educating people to develop a holistic character that was connected with the universal intelligence and with human virtue.Although the principle of the separation of religion and state was established to secure both the right of politics and the freedom of beliefs, political groups have either utilized or suppressed religions. Politicians have also wrongly applied separation of religion and state by excluding religious aspects in public schools.In the perspective of Won-Buddhism, politics and religion are inseparably related. Sot'aesan, the founder of Won-Buddhism, emphasized that politics and religions should closely cooperate to educate people, liking the relationship between politics and religions to that between two wheels of a carriage or between a strict father and a loving mother. Master Chŏngsan, in describing the relationship between politics and religions, said "the same mindedness of politics and religions"(政敎同心). Education in Won-Buddhism is considered the root of the world's progress and the foundation of human civilization. Therefore, it can be said that the rise or fall and prosperity or decline of an individual, a family, a society, and a nation depends on whether or not people are well educated.A religious education should be based upon religious pluralism and should maintain impartiality and objectivity without political or religious bias. Though the public school should certainly not be the mission field, we must not exclude or downscale the area of religion in the field of education. It is essential to educate human morality in order to nurture one's whole personality. It is also essential to teach religion in the field of religious studies, theology, religious philosophy, culture and arts. At the same time, in order to enhance the educational program in the field of religion, it is necessary to extend the mutual exchange program among students, as well as programs and credits between the public or private schools.