Religious Diversity and Religious Governance in South Korea: From Nominal to Covenantal Pluralism

Abstract

Historically the paradigm of religious governance in South Korea focused on controlling and regulation, with a constrained conception of “diversity” and a thin veneer of tolerance. The traditional pattern of religious governance in Korea reflects a merely nominal pluralism and problematic oligopolistic assumptions. Religious and worldview diversity is increasing in numerous ways. The mismatch between religious governance and religious diversity can be seen in the government’s treatment of unconventional religious groups. There is a need in Korea for the kind of robust, relational, and non-relativistic model represented by covenantal pluralism. Fortunately, there are emerging signs of potential progress toward this model.