비폭력과 ‘종교적인 것’: 간디이즘(Gandhiism)에 나타난 종 교의 공공성

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to shed new light on Gandhiism. Gandhiism shows that all political movements and religious beliefs are not unrelated. The will to practice non-violence that Gandhi showed throughout his life is represented by Ahimsa. Ahimsa is the idea and practice of non-killing that aims to revere life and preserve life. The movement of non-violence is named ‘Satyagraha’, that is, the power of truth. For Gandhi, it had a pious religious meaning and was at the same time a driving force that made social reform possible. However, the true power to reform society lies in the transformation within humans, and Gandhi’s unique optimism was his confidence in this. Gandhi’s optimism lay in the infinite possibility of an individual’s ability to exercise non-violence, which requires the help of religion in addition to human efforts. It is a self-control that does not infringe on the happiness of others, and it requires self-purification to identify oneself with all living things. Self-purification is so contagious that it aims to purify those around it, and when this becomes socialized beyond the individual, true happiness and peace arrive. Therefore, religion in Gandhianism can be said to be a discourse and practice about the publicity of religion that pursues the public good beyond individual private actions.