Yun, Seung-yong. "The Outline about the Scripture of New Religions." Journal of New Religions 16 (April 2007): 11-44.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the scriptures of Korean new religions into the process of constitution, the system and the organization, the contents, and then to take a look at their characteristics and prospecs.

Generally, the religious teachings of scriptures are formed by the founder’s spiritual dogma. After his or her death, lots of ideas about the administration of religious orders are surrounded over the dogma. Accordingly, the records is needed about the sayings and the teaching of the founders.

At this point, the system and form of each religious scriptures is influenced by its characteristic of religious matters and experiences. The deductive belief, emphasizing on the revelation of God, produces the formal scripture. But various scriptures filled with religious experiences is produced by the inductive belief on seeking after truth. In addition, scripture is possible to reinterpret the original thought solely through the meeting of believers. And the religion still remains as lively as ever then the reinterpretation is combined with the existing state of things.

This study looks at the five leading Korean new religions in order to get the systematic understanding of their scriptures. Namely, there are Cheondogyo as the beginner of new religion, Jeungsangyo abundant in Korean cultural heritage, Daejonggyo founded on the belief in Tangkun (단군) as the founder of Korea, Won-Buddhism changed into the modern-styled Buddhism of form and contents, and Tongilgyo directing to Korean new Christian order.

Cheondogyo is characteristic of the contents of scripture written by the founder himself on the basis of his personal undergoing. Then its successor made an addition of writings solely concerned with its interpretation, but there is no change of contents no matters what the changes in the religious order are abundant. Compared by the scriptures of Cheondogyo, there are many things mysterious and transcendental about that of Jeungsangyo. Also, in accordance with the Jeungsan’s life story, the scripture is composed of chapter and paragraph. The introduction of new formality is influenced largely by the New Testament. Next, the scripture of Daejonggyo is composed of the revelation scripture involving the cosmic philosophy and the Genesis and the scripture of successor in charge of its explanation. Its contents are characteristic of the glory of Korean nation. The scripture of Won-Buddhism observes the formality of Buddhism. As the name of religious order change, its name and the organization gain more changes. The Tongilgyo advances into overseas, with no formal scripture. It’s based on the Bible.  ‘Discussion of Principle (원리강론) is based on the reinterpretation in the oriental and Korean way of the Bible and history.

On the whole the scriptures of new religions are formed on the base on the Korean culture and tradition, but in the part of system and contents they are largely affected by the Christian scripture. For example, they are put on a highly emphasis of the achievements of the founder and the works of redemption. Various scriptures are made into one book of scriptures involving a hymn.  They still think highly of religious experiences or of practice in the succession of the Korean style and Orientalism.