좋은 사회를 위한 종교의 역할과 종교기반 시민단체의 의의: 로버트 벨라의 재성찰

Abstract

This article aims at examining the perspective of Robert Bellah on the social role of religion, and reconsidering its contribution as well as limit through the religion-based civil organizations in Korea. Bellah regards the good society as one in which “quest for right and law and realization of ethics and public virtues on the part of both self and social institutions proceed simultaneously.” It means moral vision and sense of social mission should always go together, and in this respect religiosity and community are two central features of Bellah’s good society. He considers that it was due to the biblical tradition for people to become to acknowledge the importance of mutual dependent relationship as well as the common responsibility contributing to broader fellowship in their life, although America is a country placing high demands upon individualism. Such perspectives are reflected in his debates about community, which emphasize ‘paying attention,’ implying a willingness to take care of one another and focus on the establishment of community. He does not make a priori distinction between good society and civil society, and stresses that religion can't play its role if it operates independently of civil society. Nevertheless, Bellah appears to prefer moral sense of responsibility toward common good to emotional binding. It means his debates require some change and complement on social role of religion. He did not mention the necessity of religion-based civil organization, but the truth is that there are many issues his type of religious community can not carry out, namely those such as democratization, ecology, environment, education, youth, political issues, which religion-based civil organizations made a great achievements in Korea. But biblicism using the bible as working document, moral consciousness of responsibility, participation in public discourse, positive vision of conflict and arguments, unfavorable view of ‘bonding’ and so on may serve as a reference to the religion-based civil organizations.