The Growth of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI) and Its Civic Engagement in the Socio-Historical Context

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper examines the factors for the rise of Korea Soka Gakkai International (KSGI) as one of the largest, if not the largest, new religious movements in Korea. grown rapidly in the Korean religious market. The paper argues that KSGI has successfully combined secular, nonpolitical civic movements and religious lay movements to thrive in Korea. The paper also argues that KSGI’s civic engagement led to a more effective growth strategy tailored to the Korean socio-historical context. The paper will be, if published, an important addition to the literature on KSGI. However, I have the following suggestions for improving the quality of the paper (Given the relatively short length of the paper, I think the authors can freely make the paper more inclusive, addressing all the issues raised below):

1.      The abstract should also include more detailed information on its arguments/findings. The same goes for Introduction. In addition to writing about what the authors will examine, there should also be comments on its findings.

2.      Given the fact that general readers are not familiar with KSGI, authors should, at least briefly, describe its history and its main teachings.

3.      More attention should be paid to discussing representative literature on new religious movements in and outside of Korea. Particular attention should be paid to discussing the factors for the success or failure of new religious movements.

4.      For a more balanced examination, the paper should also mention about any negative aspects associated with the religion.

5.      The paper provides a brief comparison between KSGI and SG in Japan, but it needs to persuade the reader why such a comparison is justified or needed in greater details.

6.      In Conclusions, the paper should also discuss the implications of the paper’s findings/arguments on the broader debate in new religious movements.

Author Response

Comments:

1. The abstract should also include more detailed information on its arguments/findings. The same goes for Introduction. In addition to writing about what the authors will examine, there should also be comments on its findings.
2. Given the fact that general readers are not familiar with KSGI, authors should, at least briefly, describe its history and its main teachings.
3. More attention should be paid to discussing representative literature on new religious movements in and outside of Korea. Particular attention should be paid to discussing the factors for the success or failure of new religious movements.
4. For a more balanced examination, the paper should also mention about any negative aspects associated with the religion.
5. The paper provides a brief comparison between KSGI and SG in Japan, but it needs to persuade the reader why such a comparison is justified or needed in greater details.
6. In Conclusions, the paper should also discuss the implications of the paper’s findings/arguments on the broader debate in new religious movements.

Responses: All comments or suggestions except for 3 were reflected in the revised version of the manuscript marked in red. But, I really think that the third issue is an important topic to be handled in another article because a growth and decline of NRMs in Korea is related to too diverse and complicated issues to explain briefly here. Thank you for giving comments. 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I suggest to the author not to limit himself to the description and contextualization of the issue at hand, to the statements offered by various authors, whether Korean or foreign, but to examine both the history of the genesis and religious doctrine of the sectarian religious movement in question, as well as the ways in which it successfully operates in South Korean society.

This can be only materialized through research and examination of first-hand documentary sources that are critically and objectively evaluated. Otherwise, the article submitted is merely the result of the collection of informations grasped from various articles or books, without any originality or personal note of the author. Certainly, without recourse to these sources, it is not possible to speak in an informed manner neither about the civil commitment enunciated and propagated by the leaders and members of the respective secular religious movement in South Korea.

Author Response

Comments: 

I suggest to the author not to limit himself to the description and contextualization of the issue at hand, to the statements offered by various authors, whether Korean or foreign, but to examine both the history of the genesis and religious doctrine of the sectarian religious movement in question, as well as the ways in which it successfully operates in South Korean society.

  [Response]: I tried to reflect this suggestion in the revised version of the manuscript marked in red. 

This can be only materialized through research and examination of first-hand documentary sources that are critically and objectively evaluated. Otherwise, the article submitted is merely the result of the collection of informations grasped from various articles or books, without any originality or personal note of the author. Certainly, without recourse to these sources, it is not possible to speak in an informed manner neither about the civil commitment enunciated and propagated by the leaders and members of the respective secular religious movement in South Korea.

 [Response]: You are right in emphasizing an importance of examining first-hand materials. It is very often the case in the study of religion. But, this kind of research and examination seems more necessary for an interpretation or comparison of religious scriptures, but not essential for my analysis. I think that the pattern and attitudes of faith-based civic engagements in question can be observed and analyzed properly and objectively even by means of believers' books, announcements, and actions. My direct observation and participation in the KSGI and many interviews with its members were more significant for me to find out main factors that previous studies have overlooked. I really cannot agree that this paper is simply based on religious propaganda or collecting subjective information. Thank you.