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Buddhism Losing Out To Chistianity In South Korea

By Howard M. Friedman

Today's Asia Sentinel says that protests by Buddhists in South Korea that the administration of President Lee Myung-bak is biased against them (see prior posting) are actually symptoms of deeper concerns about the rising influence of Christians in Korean society and government. The power and influence of the country's Buddhist community has been declining for 50 years, and there are internal splits over temple properties. Prof. Kim Yong Pyo of Dongkook Buddhist University in Seoul suggests that Koreans, especially younger ones, increasingly see Christianity as a superior progressive Western religion, while they see Buddhism as a tradition-bound folk religion.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 02, 2008 (boomark / email).