The Jogye Order, the nation’s largest Buddhist sect, has drafted a declaration of religious peace. It is meaningful for the order to initiate interfaith harmony. We hope Christianity, Islam and other religious denominations will join the Buddhist efforts to show tolerance and respect each other.
Last Tuesday, Ven. Dobeop of the Jogye Order made public the draft declaration saying the sect will hold other religions dear. The draft is the first of its kind in South Korea where exclusiveness has long dominated each religion. The religious exclusiveness has run deep in the minds of not only priests but also lay believers.
Of course, it appears that there is no religious conflict in the country. Korea is a secular state that firmly sticks to the separation of religion and state. Freedom of religion is a constitutional right every individual enjoys.
But there exist invisible undercurrents of rivalry and conflicts among Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and other religious groups. Each religion has been mired in sectarian discord and feuds. In this sense, most religions have come under criticism for their failure to promote reconciliation and harmony.
Interfaith harmony cannot be achieved unless religious groups reflect upon their own track record of jealousy, anger and animosity for each other. They are required to rid themselves of their misguided mindset that despises others. Religious leaders and believers have been preoccupied with self-righteousness and arrogance.
There have been attempts by Buddhism and Catholicism to move toward interfaith reconciliation and harmony. The late Ven. Beop Jeong once invited late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan to a prayer service marking the opening of Gilsang Temple in Seoul. In return, the Buddhist monk gave a lecture at Myeongdong Cathedral.
However, this was only a one-time event and stopped short of organized efforts to forge friendly ties and enhance harmony among different faiths. Now it is time to make systematic efforts to move toward reconciliation and peace among diverse religions groups.
All the denominations should stop engaging in excessive competition to propagate their own religious doctrine, ignoring that of others. They need to love their neighbors’ religion so that they can live and worship together in peace and harmony.