This study investigated the Korea SGI members’ religious values and life satisfaction through a comparative analysis of the result of a survey of Korea Soka Gakkai International (Korea SGI) members based on data on Protestantism, Catholicism, and Bu...
This study investigated the Korea SGI members’ religious values and life satisfaction through a comparative analysis of the result of a survey of Korea Soka Gakkai International (Korea SGI) members based on data on Protestantism, Catholicism, and Buddhism surveyed by Gallup Korea. Through this, this study would approach the religious characteristics of Korea SGI, a Japanese religion and the growth factors of the Korea SGI religion in Korean society. As a result of this survey, compared to the established religions, most of the Korea SGI members came to have the religion when they were younger than nine and in their 20s to 30s. In addition, the Korea SGI members had faith longer than those of the established religions did. As for the momentum they came to believe in the religion was mostly because they needed to or by another person’s propagation. As for the reason for believing in the religion, they wanted to be blessed or they would like to find the meaning of life. The number of participants in religious gatherings, the number of personal prayers or wish, and the number of encounters with the doctrine were much more than in the established religions. Also, they had higher religious beliefs or more experiences of healing by the religious power than in the established religions. In terms of life satisfaction, they felt great happiness and attached importance to the meaning of life as well. As for the important measure of life, the members of the established religions picked health while those of Korea SGI picked happy family life. In addition, it turned out that the Korea SGI members had open values, instead of conservative ones tied up to Confucian values compared to the established religions. Through the above results, the Korea SGI members had religious values different from Protestantism, Catholicism, and Buddhism while they kept a close relationship with the religion of Korea SGI. It is judged that the members’ religious values and life satisfaction are also considered one of the growth factors of Korea SGI in Korean society.