This attempts to analyze the denominational distribution of the religious groups and its missions in the area of Kangwha-Gun and to find out how to adapt to the traditional Korean society in the earlier periods of their missions in terms of religious ...
This attempts to analyze the denominational distribution of the religious groups and its missions in the area of Kangwha-Gun and to find out how to adapt to the traditional Korean society in the earlier periods of their missions in terms of religious public house constructions and missionary activities in the local area.
The study covers Kangwha island, Kyodong Myon, and Samsun Myon which composed of the administrative area of Kangwha-Gun. Data and materials for the study are obtained from the Office of Kagwha-Gun and the Cultural Center in the area. Fields interviews also conducted in the area for the study. And for the study morphological and historical approaches are attempted.
The results may be summarized as followings.
1. The Christianity come in this area through the area of Incheon. However, the Methodists missioned in the area of Kyosan and the Anglican Church missioned in the area of Gapgot around the last decade of 19 century.
2. The Methodists, which composed of 72% of the total Christians in the area, show strong dominance in the popuiated area as well as remote area. The other religious such as Anglican Church, Catholics, and Prebysterians are outstandingly dominant religious groups in the area. Most of religious groups not only concentrated in the overcrowding area of Kangwha-Eup, but also spreads to the remote area.
3. Anglican Church did not attempt to change or infringe on the traditional Korean society, but just to adapt to the Korean society or cooperate with the local people, which appears on the building types of the religious public house. That is, the public house was constructed with the mixed Korean-Western types.
4. The ratio of male to female of religious [groups stands for 33 to 67 which is not different among the denominational groups in the area. But Catholics show some characteristics of male dominance. The male-female ratio of the Buddhists is much lower than that of others.
5. The public house types of denominational groups are very differents but the house types can be divided into two; western and Korean. The Unifications and Catholics show some characteristics of modern house types and regional character istics of the house types.