[Buddha-l] Perhaps the Buddhists in Korea have finally had it?

[Dan Lusthaus]

Joanna,

I may not be able to attend that particular session due to something else
happening at the same time. If there, I will report back.

The Hindu-Christian outbursts presently going on in India have both a longer
and shorter history -- the shorter history being the killing of a Hindu
leader, which sparked the Hindu reaction. The longer history is more complex
and has become enmeshed with all sorts of political agendas; religious riots
have become periodic parts of the landscape there (though each has its own
history and peculiarities).

As for Korea, Confucianism was dominant for many centuries (Choson Dynasty,
1392-1910), and Buddhism survived but played second fiddle. Confucian
attitudes still dominate social interactions in Korea, but Buddhism has made
a strong resurgence during the 20th c. Historically, while there were
tensions and repressions of various sorts, violent outbursts against other
religions were not the rule. With the ascendancy of Christianity in the late
20th c. that has changed. Violence, vandalism against Buddhist institutions
and temples, etc., have become commonplace, and the Buddhists have, until
recently, largely been perplexed and unsure how to react. Complaining about
the prime minister and his perceived slight of Buddhist leaders is a
pretext, and not a very effective response. In short, the Christians have
been very aggressive, expressing a kind of intolerance previously unusual
for Korea, and the Buddhists have not quite figured out how to respond
(fortunately, so far, they haven't responded in kind -- unfortunately, that
may be down the road). Throwing off Confucian mores is on the mind of most
modernity-minded Koreans, Christian and Buddhist, especially women who have
many legitimate grievances against the present social system (e.g., a single
woman cannot check into a hotel).

Dan