Abstract
In order to understand the religious phenomenon which has given birth to the new religions in Korea it is necessary to knlow its socio-political background. The movement was started with the intention of bringing about a solution to the extremely difficult situation inside the country : the eco nomical, political and social disorder of the society of the nineteenth century. The deterioration of traditional religions and ideologies left the Korean people without any ideological or moral guide: Buddhism, Confucianism were incapable of responding to the needs of the time. To those elements we have to add the danger coming from the West, that is, the danger coming from the increasing Western influence in Asia /, thereby demonstrating the failure of the traditional system ; but we have to consider also the temptation which Christianity represented for this hopeless people.
These circumstances provoked a religious movement of self- defense and also determined the characteristics of this move ment. The unity of the people had to be achieved — thus a tendency towards syncretism followed. In order to give hope to a despairing population, all the new religions started to announce a new era and paradise on earth. Elements taken from the popular beliefs and tendancies related to the practices of Chamanism play an important role in these religions which want to present themselves as possessing divine omnipotence. Finally we have to insist on the nationalistic character of these religions which consider the Korean people as the chosen people of the new era.
In certain sects, we have to recognize the praiseworthy effort to save human dignity and the traditional values of the Far East ; unfortunately, it is impossible to find even one sect which has succeeded in achieving an organized syn thesis of the elements taken from here and there ; this remains a serious question for the future.