I. Goal

This
research attempts to develop a Korean model of measuring religiosity based on Korean religious experiences and values which are and were different from religiosity measurements within Christian religious  traditions. Religious measurement here is a matter of how to evaluate a level of religious commitment. Through investigating a method of measuring religiosity in Germany with a long Christian tradition and further comparing with Korean situation, this research
will contribute to a better scientific understanding of Korean religiosity immeasurable by means of Christian measurements. In short, the ultimate goal of
this research is to construct a new model of religiosity measurement available in various individual and social issues such as religious diversity, conflicts between religious groups, religious happiness, and religious policy in Korea

II. Brief Description

First, it pays a special attention to how German scholars of religion deal with a religiosity measurement. It is very important for Korean researchers to understand how and
why German partners reflect some German specification in making their religiosity measurement. Second, it is necessary to examine and categorize some specific aspects of religious experiences and values inherent in Korean people.
These religious specifications like multiple or hidden religious membership should be reflected in a new religiosity measurement model. For this goal this research project tries to develop a questionnaire of measuring an extent of belief in ancestor worship, geomancy, palm reading, physiognomy, astrology, fortunetelling, and the like, which are regarded as a primary foundation of Korean religiosity. Third, all researchers participated in this project will be engaged in finding how much and what external factors influence on Korean religiosity. This is because religiosity as dependent valuable is more likely to be significant in explaining a mutual relationship between different valuables. Finally, this project involves an experimental test of a new model developed by its researchers in the third year of project. Based on the newly developed model of questionnaire, researchers will conduct an actual survey and then share its contribution and limitation with other scholars of religion through domestic or international seminars and conferences.

III. Expected Outcome

First, the relatively objective and scientific measurement of religiosity can make comparative analysis of religious groups more meaningful and frequent. Second, a Korean model of religiosity measurement makes clear a religious identity of Korean people that cannot be comprehended by western or Christian identity as a result of globalization process. Considering that international databases such as Pew Research Center, World Christian Database, and ARDA explain Korean religiosity on the basis of their own category different from social reality in Korea, this contribution becomes more important. Through this comparative study of Korean and German religiosity, Korean researchers can get closer to the nature of Korean religiosity which is different from German religiosity rooted in Christianity. Besides, an scholarly network of Korean and German researchers can be expanded into a construction of religiosity measurement available to both Eastern and Western culture.
Third, the shaping of a stereotyped religiosity measurement based on Korean religious experiences and values can encourage neighboring disciplines to regard religion as an object of their research. The measurements developed by this project can be applied to geography, psychology, politics, economics, and
even biology as independent valuable. This interdisciplinary study is needed more expansively with a recent trend of integral development of science and humanity. Finally, this project has significant political implications concerning a potential violence of religion to be caused by the increasing religious diversity. Without any scientific measurements to guess a religiosity of different religious groups and people, it means there is no predictor of managing religion as a social institution. Especially a variety of religiosity implicit or explicit in daily life makes it more difficult to predict social attitudes of religious groups and people, including sects, cults, atheists, and ethnic groups with indigenous religion.

September 1, 2016  

Principal Investigator of GRN Project

Dean of Graduate School and Professor of Sociology

Kyung Hee University

Song, Jae Ryong