한국사회의 신영성운동(新靈性運動)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to answer these questions: About Korea's Life Force training group since 1990, what is similar and different against New Age movement in USA and New Spirituality movement in Japan? What is the identity of Life Force training group? And is there new religious status resulting from individualism in modern society? For example, this study discovered the similarity and difference in training the mind and the body among New Age movement in USA, New Spirituality movement in Japan and Life Force training group in Korea, and in depth and concretely searched for Suseonjae born in 1998 as the new religious status. This study investigated the truth and the character in Korea's New Spirituality movement from Suseonjae, Life Force training group. In result, it is sure that Life Force training group is the new religious status and the reasons are as following. First, Korea's Life Force training group refuse to put itself in range of religion. Similarly, Suseonjae define itself 'non-profit educational group' or 'meditation school' as criticizing the negative effect of religion. However, for the modern people searching for the stability of body and mind, Suseonjae suggests to be rescued through the meditation or Seongye Practice: as their word, this is the evolution of man. Eventually, it is showed to acknowledge religious belief with relief. Second, in modern society, there is the period of healing beyond well-being. Suseonjae, practicing New Spirituality movement, notices the need trend from modern people and suggests an alternative for it. The alternative is the program of 'meditation academy' to be readily accessible and of 'Seon Museum' to be a museum of life. Third, when the part of the religion has not got the need of modern people, but built up the their organization, Suseonjae suggests the solution and program involving the real need of modern people as notice. Forth, as above-mentioning, Suseonjae insists itself not on religion, but on culture community. However, Suseonjae was born in realization of Hwa-Young Mun. That is, Suseonjae, as intended or unintended, makes the community as sharing the same values, conducts meditation or Seon Exercises the ceremony, and even memorizes the literature of Hwa-Young Mun as a bible. As it was considered, it is the same as the new religious status. Fifth, Suseonjae insist on meditation and hypogastric breathing as main activity. And there are the culture program or ecology movement in Suseonjae. Through it, various elements, being difficult to define as the one character, are involved in Suseonjae This study was focused on defining the real character of New Spirituality movemen in Korea through Suseonjae. As Suseonjae is various and vague, it is difficult to define it as a standard of old religion. Only it is identified that Suseonjae has the character of extended religion . Nowdays, there is few discussion of Life Force training group in the related academia. this study means much to this climate because of case research in Suseonjae. In spite of that, there should have been the in-depth research and analysis of more groups to define the character of New Spiritualty movement in Korea. Therefore, this study has the limitation of only one case research, and the definition of the others remains as the follow-up.