Cheondoism

Cheondoism is a Korean traditional religion which began during the last year of Joseon Dynasty. It was found in 1860 by Choe Je-U, the first religious sect leader of Cheondoism. At first, he named this religion Donghak, or Eastern Learning in opposition to Western Learning. In 1905, the name was change to Cheondogyo by the third leader, Son Byeong-Hui. In period of Japanese occupation, it made an effort to lead Korea's Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule and expand it's congregation. Today, Cheondoism exerts less strong influence than before.

Cheondoism is theistic religion and members believe god called 'Hanul'. God is both transcendent and immanent in Heaven, Earth, and Man. Not only the notion of God, but also view of human, moral, history are distinctive. When one dies, one does not go to some other-dimensional heaven but returns to the One Being. The fundamental doctrine of the religion is that all human being is equal because all people serve the god in their mind when born, so believers desperately oppose the hierarchy. And depending on equality for all, it insisted that children should be respected.
 
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