Cheondoism

Cheondoism (spelled Chondoism in North Korea; Korean: 천도교; lit. Religion of the Celestial Way) is a 20th-century Korean pantheistic religion, based on the 19th-century Donghak religious movement founded by Choe Je-u and codified under Son Byong-hi. Cheondoism has its origins in the peasant rebellions which arose starting in 1812 during the Joseon.

Cheondoism incorporates elements of Korean shamanism. It places emphasis on personal cultivation and social welfare in the present world. Splinter movements include Suwunism and Bocheonism.

Cheondogyo translated literally means "religion of the Celestial Way", where cheon means "sky", do means "way" (written with the same character as Chinese Tao), and gyo means "religion", "teaching", "-ism".

Over time, Cheondoism has also adapted elements of other Korean religious traditions, including Do (Taoism) and Buddhism.

In keeping with its roots in Confucian thought, Cheondoism venerates Cheon ("Sky" or "Heaven") as the ultimate principle of good and justice, which is referred to by the honorific term Haneullim (하늘님), or "Divinity". According to church doctrine, the term "Haneul" does not only mean "Sky"; it represents the whole universe or "oneness", as well.^{[failed verification]} This title implies the quality of Heaven as "instructor"; a belief that humans and things are not created by a supernatural God but generated by a God-nature present in all living and unliving things.^{[need quotation to verify]}

Also in keeping with its Confucian background, Cheondoism places emphasis on self-improvement in the hope that, as one improves one's innate nature, one comes closer to the Sky; that all beings' relationship to God can be measured by their nearness or distance to their innate God-nature. Choe Si Hyong, the leader who published Cheondoism's scriptures, established the core principle of the unity of all things based on this innate presence of the divine. This principle carried with it a sense that "to serve a person is to serve Heaven".

Roland Boer summarizes the cultural impact of Chondoism as follows:

Chondoism bequeathed to Korean culture a number of principles, with an explicit drive to social and religious equality. These include: 'my heart is your heart', with reference both to others and to 'heaven'; 'treat humans as God' in a challenge to Confucian hierarchies; 'protect the nation, secure peace to the people' with a clear reference to Korea in relation to foreign powers; 'all people evolve toward unity' which has gained even more traction with the split between north and south; and 'the Kingdom of heaven on earth'.