Korean Christians and Protestants continue vandalism acts on Buddhism

[Big Uncle]

I can hardly believe my eyes. I can't believe that the Christians can be so aggressive towards the Korean Buddhists. They sound like terrorists that's no different from Al-Qaeda. It is really so sad that Buddhism is always bullied around like that. Just not too long ago in Afghanistan, the extremist muslims destroy a precious ancient statue of Lord Buddha. Now in Korea, they are systematically destroying their own Korean history and heritage in favor of a foreign God and religion. This is really sad and very bad for Korea.

Korean Christians and Protestants continue vandalism acts on...
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=89,11172,0,0,1,0
by Emi hayakawa, BTN, Nov 6, 2012



Seoul, South Korea -- Vandalism and arson of Buddhist temples and treasures, and important cultural properties relating to Buddhism by the Korean Christian and Protestant communities continue. Although many legislative laws have changed to protect cultural properties and national treasure after the tragic arson of the Namdaemun gate, national treasure No.1, vandalism to Buddhist temples and Buddhist treasures continue in Korea.

On October 4th, 2012, an arson tried to burn down the Gakhwangjeon Hall of Hwaomsa Temple in Gurye County, Korea. Fortunately, the fire only made a small damage to the gate of the hall due to quick actions of the monks and the fire prevention restoration made in 2008. 
 
On the CCTV, the video captured a man pouring a flammable substance across the hall, and according to witnesses they smelt a very arsenic substance coming from the hall before the man threw in a match to burn down the Gakhwangjeon Hall.
 
Due to this incident, the Korean Buddhist community is in shock once again and fighting for a stricter law enforcement for the perpetrators of vandalism and arson to Korean important cultural properties and National treasures. 
 
Furthermore, on August 20th, 2012 a Protestant pastor, Seong, vandalized the dharma hall of Donghwasa Temple. This pastor self-proclaimed that he was from the SoonBokEum Church, was caught urinating in the dharma hall and vandalized the Buddhist portraits with a permanent marker. His poor actions was captured on CCTV of the dharma hall.


The Buddhist community was outraged by this act and urged law enforcements to put a stricter punishment as this act cannot be charged with a simple invasion and vandalism punishment.
 
Although the law enforcement captured the pastor, they considered this act as “unusual” and let the pastor go stating that he was under mental disorientation. Thus, enraging the Buddhist community because the Korean government and law enforcement is very lenient towards destruction of Buddhist artifacts and National treasures.

On November 2011, the stele that accompanied the stupa of National Preceptor Jigwangguksa of Beopcheonsa temple, Korean National Treasure No. 59 was vandalized. A giant cross was drawn across the five meter stone statue and was opened to public on a christian man’s Facebook and twitter page.
 
Similarly, in November 2011, near the Haewundae in Busan, Korea. Four Buddhist temples reported vandalism and invasion by the Korean Christian community, as they spray painted red lacquer on the hands and faces of the Buddha statues.
 
Various vandalism of Buddhist cultural properties and Buddhist temples, vandalism and destruction of Korean national treasures have been going for several decades, and these actions are the root causes of religious disharmony between the Korean religious communities.
 
One of the biggest and significant act of vandalism by Christians was in June of 2006 during the “Again 1907 in Busan” festival by Korean Christians. The Christians prayed earnestly for all the Buddhist temples and monasteries of the Busan area to be destructed, and many Korean citizens were dismayed to find Korean President Lee MyungBak to be the congratulatory commentator of this event.

In February of 2011, there was another scandal where three pastors came to the Jogye temple and ordered the monastics to “believe in Jesus, as {koreans} we are all children of God.”

In 2010, a pastor and college students of the Christian faith invaded Bongeunsa temple and began a “Ground stepping”  and had a protestant ritual for all the ground to be returned to the land of God.

This was wide spread throughout youtube and the internet.
 
These various vandalism sparks fear of Buddhist discrimination in Korea. Korea is in much need for the harmony of religions, and these vandalism of the Korean Christian and Protestant community need to stop.

[buddhalovely]

The Korean peninsula is known throughout the world for the stark bifurcation between the communist North and the capitalist South. North Korea (DPRK) is one of the most closed societies in the world where the public is prohibited access to international communication. Reports tell us that the North is a starving totalitarian state where the people have no freedom or civil rights and where the thought of the Great Leaders Kim Il Sung and his heir Kim Jong Il dominates all aspects of life like a ultra-nationalist cult. The major institutionalized religions of the North- Buddhism, Christianity and Chondogyo- have been subject to purges and are strictly subordinated to the state and its all pervasive ideology of Juche (self-reliance). Authentic interreligious dialogue and cooperation is a non-issue except for praise of the Great Leader. Survival of the original religious impulses and authentic traditions of the North is at stake after nearly fifty years of political repression.

[Tenzin K]

Spiritual practice is not about individual believed but is also harmonious between others. If the most basic value of respect can’t be understood by any religious or practitioner I don’t think they are really religious or practitioners but just practicing schism and disharmony. Very obvious that we have so different believes in this world, not just spiritually we can see the different but physically, even our own fingers are at different length but still from our own hand.

We can be different in our believe but they is no different in the practice of benefiting others because it definitely must come from a sincere heart and act with wisdom for long term.
Being fanatic and always look at the different will never bring any benefits but just dissatisfaction and disagreement. We can never move and always trap with our narrow minded and unable to handle bigger matter because our thinking is just fix with the small matter.

Sad to see such an issue still exist at this time because obviously it doesn’t benefit anyone but just suffering.

If we call ourself a practitioners or a religious person we should be compassionate and rational not tolerate with negative matter but share and look toward the common positive believe that will bring harmonious together.

[dondrup]

It is very unfortunate that the Korean Buddhists had to suffer these attacks from the Korean Christians.  Already Korea is divided into North and South Korea.  These religious disharmonies will further divide the Koreans.  It is not so much that Korean Buddhists are attached to these Buddhist temples and treasures; it is the acts of vandalism, disrespect from the Christians and the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities.  The most pathetic is that of Korean President Lee Myung Bak had the audacity to congratulate the Christians that prayed for all the Buddhist temples and monasteries of the Busan area to be destructed in 2006!   These are signs of rapid degeneration of moral conduct.  In the long run, Koreans will lose all their cultural heritage, basic human ethics and values.  Are the Koreans not concerned about the future of Korea?  Do the Koreans not want to effect a change in the right direction before it is too late?

[brian]

I can hardly believe my eyes! I can't believe these things happens to Buddhists as well nowadays. The Korean Christians made themselves look like terrorists(!) here and it will not help to calm things down in the north. Why would they do that to Buddhists?? Why do Buddhists always have to be in the receiving end?? And despite interventions from the local government, it helped the situation a little. You will always hear violence against Buddhists and never the other way round. May the Buddhists in Korea be safe from harm and violence.

[fruven]

Just the title of the news already it implies Christians and Protestants are people who vandalise other religion's property if we don't analyze the statement. It is a blanket statement portraying a certain religion group in a bad light. It should be noted that in the incident the group of people who have done vandalism subscribed to the same belief. They can believer but not practitioner as well all know good practitioner respect other's belief and the law. The issue at hand is vandalism of religion's properties and objects of worship. It can happen to any religious group. Or to any non religious stuff such as public properties and facilities.

[Big Uncle]

Buddhism is declining in South Korea and many countries that were originally Buddhist and are being transplanted in foreign lands. The percentage of Buddhists have declined to 23-24% of the population while the aggressive Christian faiths have increased to 32%. I hope that the Buddhists in Korea would do more to preserve and to protect Buddhism against the onslaught of the Christian faith.  For the Christians, I hope they will really embody Christ and his teachings and not to hurt others. All these vandalism is very unchristian and not what Jesus Christ will do.

Religions in Korea   
Religious Affiliations
( http://www.korea4expats.com/article-religions-in-korea.html )

The two main religions in the Korea of today are Buddhism with about 23-24% of the population and Christianity the choice of at least 32%. It is hard to correctly tabulate the number of Christians since many belong to more than one church denomination and members who drift from one congregation to the other are not necessarily removed from the rolls of any one of them. Moreover, Korean statistics often separate Christians and Roman Catholics.

Christianity (Roman Catholic and Protestant) is well represented all over Korea and surpassed Buddhism in numbers in the 1990's. It is estimated that almost 50% of the population in and around Seoul are Christian, while Buddhism is stronger in the southern provinces.

Other religions, including the Muslin and Bahai faiths as well as the indigineous Shamanism (traditional spirit worship) and Cheondogyo (a mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianims, Shamanism and Christianity) account for a little less than 10% of the population. A little more than 1/3 of Koreans profess to not belong to any organised religious group.

Korea has produced several hundred "new religions" or sects over the last 200 or so years. One of the most internationally known is the Unification church, now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, founded by Sun Myung Moon in 1954. The oldest of these "new religions" is Chon'dogyo, founded in 1860 as a reaction to Western teachings. The practice of establishing new churches continues to this day, for a number of reason, including as a solution to power struggles within a particular church group.

Although very few people profess to be adherents of Confucianism, the vast majority of Korean, regardless of their religious affiliation or non-affliliation, subscribe to Confucian values, which continue to strongly influence Korean society, even into the 21st century.

[diablo1974]

Sadly, korea has more and more anti buddhist activists around and now they are attacking the national relic. They viewed these precious remains as religious threat tontheir current faith instead of preserving the national treasure and historical remains to educate their future generations. In recent years, koreans has more converts from buddhism to other faiths and i also sense a mixture of politics in religion, which is something dangerous and unhealthy in terms of pure spirituality.

[bambi]

Whatever your religion, please respect one another. There is no need to to compare as to whose is greater. I am sure that there are so many religions for a reason. You chose to believe because you are comfortable and you like it. So do I. What religion teach you to be disrespectful and cause harm to others? Korea is already sad enough to be divided into half. Why cause more grief to those around you? Please be kind and respect oth faiths...

[sonamdhargey]

it is unbeliavable that a Pastor of another religion can conduct such acts. What kind of religion is this that encourages and uphold such despicable actions to damage another religious site. I'm sure this particular Pastor is not in his right mind and probably took his beliefs wrongly and into his own hands. No religion shall damage another. Buddhism is the religion of peace and promotes peace.

[DS Star]

All main stream religions supposedly teach its followers to lead a noble and respectful life, promote love and kindness to others; to help the underprivileged and to contribute towards harmony and peace.

Christians and Prostestants should be no different in this principle. So this kind of attitude of the so-called leaders i.e. the pastors, their vandalism acts on Buddhism artifacts are unacceptable. There should be a mutual respect shown between different religious community of Korea.

[rossoneri]

We are witnessing the degenerate before our eyes, why is this happening in Korea, it is because of the way the Buddhist group approaching the Dharma? We need to change the way to approach the Dharma in order to appeal to the youngster now a days.
But no matter what, i am also not too sure what are the other religion is teaching to their new generation until to the extend had created such an ugly behavior, which is not respecting others. Sad very sad..

[yontenjamyang]

The psychology behind this kind of act are:

1) Buddhism is a threat to Christianity.
2) Buddhism is "lower" of the devils religion.

To me this are acts of individuals although some may have been copycat acts. True religion always teaches kindness and compassion. Unfortunately, not all including some pastors in these cases truly understand nor practice their religion well.
For the Buddhist to seek heavier punishment is also not kind. They should seek forgiveness instead. That...would be an act of compassion.

[apprenticehealer]

It is absolutely shocking and also most saddening that anyone could do such damage to holy places .
It goes beyond sheer disrespect - it's terrorism !!!!
In my opinion, it has not so much to do with religion but the perverted attitude of destruction of the vandals. None of the mainstream religion teaches or condones this type of action. It's more the mentality of the people who perform such acts of disrespect and disregard of other people's properties and possessions !
It does not matter which religion we belong to , which faith, culture or race - we are human beings who only wish for peace , harmony and happiness in our lives.
Who doesn't ?

[hope rainbow]

Let's go and burn a church!

Well... easy and for most of us spontaneous thought that we do not entertain because we are buddhist and we should know better.

When we believe that we hold the truth and when we feel threatened in our belief, a similar thought arises too. A thought that becomes a train of thoughts leading us to anger and eventually leading us to an action that we believe is justified.

The thought must be stopped before it becomes a train and certainly before it builds up a justification in our mind for a violent act through the power of anger.

How do we stop a thought? I guess we remove its foundation...
Easily said...