Korean Religions Unit

The Korean Religions Unit welcomes proposals for paper sessions, roundtable sessions, and individual papers. Proposals in all areas of Korean Religions will be considered. This year, we especially invite submissions to the subtopics proposed by interested AAR members, as listed below. If you would like to contribute to one of the panel proposals below, please contact the organizer(s) directly, and submit your proposal at least two weeks prior to the AAR submission deadline which will be on February 26, 2024, 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Global Korean Buddhism: Transnational and Trans-denominational Change

Organizer: Jonathan Feuer (jonathan.feuer@yale.edu)

Historically, Buddhism on the Korean peninsula was deeply intertwined with the greater East Asian Buddhist tradition, so much so that identifying a “Korean” Buddhism is a problematic task. Since the late 19th century, however, nation-centered histories have distinguished “Korean” Buddhism from other forms of Buddhism, for better or worse. In reality, Korean Buddhism is not monolithic or insular, and, in recent years, the footprint of Korean Buddhist organizations has grown around the world. Buddhist teachings have been adapted to the dynamic, transnational religious landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries. What does Korean Buddhism’s place in the world Buddhist community reveal about the religion? How has the “Koreanness” of Korean Buddhism been retained, reformulated, or challenged when the religion leaves the Korean peninsula? We would especially like to include (but are not limited to) papers that address Buddhist denominations other than the Chogye Order, such as Ch’ŏnt’ae, T’aego, or Wŏn Buddhism.

Marginal Religion in Korea

Organizer: John Grisafi (john.grisafi@yale.edu)

The religious complexity of Korea, historic and contemporary, has resulted in religious diversity, but also religious marginalization. The influence of various religions in Korea has risen and fallen over time. New religions have arrived from abroad or emerged locally. In present-day South Korea, no single religion is a demographic majority. In North Korea, religion is heavily restricted. Marginal religion can be observed in Korea through such forms as minority religions, new religious movements (NRMs), foreign religions and immigrant religious communities, minoritized populations within major religions, and other forms of marginalization of or within religion. The concept is a valuable theoretical and methodological lens to understand marginalization and religion in a way that is inclusive of but beyond the categorical scope of related terms, to better understand its varieties and complexities. We seek papers that address varying examples of marginal religion in Korea, including but not limited to the examples above, tying in with the 2024 annual meeting’s theme of “Violence, Nonviolence, and the Margins,” to offer novel insights and to generate conversation on the issue and the concept and its importance for Korean religions.  

Any other papers that address the relationship between society, culture, and religion as broadly construed can be submitted directly through the AAR portal. Other inquiries can be directed to Sean Kim ckim@ucmo.edu, or Liora Sarfati lsarfati@tauex.tau.ac.il. In submitting proposals, please follow the AAR guidelines carefully.