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Religion scholar Oh Kang-nam traces the 43-year journey of his book, 'What is Religion?'

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Comparative religion scholar Oh Kang-nam discusses his book "What is Religion?", tracing its evolution from a 1983 collection of newspaper articles to its latest 2026 revised edition.
  • The book explores the meaning of religion, covering themes of truth, freedom, faith, love, and interfaith dialogue, with new sections on Buddhism and Christianity.
  • Originally written for Korean expatriates in Canada, the book has been updated over decades to resonate with contemporary readers seeking deeper understanding of religious concepts.

Comparative religion scholar Oh Kang-nam reflects on the enduring journey of his book, "What is Religion?" The work, first published in 1983 as "Dialogue Among Fellow Travelers," has undergone numerous revisions and title changes, culminating in its latest 2026 expanded edition. Oh's academic path, shifting from Western religions to comparative religion after earning his doctorate in Canada, profoundly shaped his perspective.

My first book was published in 2012 and the revised and expanded edition will be published in 2026, "What is Religion?" The first edition of this book was "Dialogue Among Fellow Travelers" in 1983.

— Oh Kang-namDiscussing the evolution of his book 'What is Religion?'

Initially, Oh penned a series of articles on "Religion as Liberation and Freedom" for a Toronto-based Korean newspaper at a friend's request. He aimed to share his evolving insights with Korean expatriates who, unlike him, lacked the opportunity for intensive religious study. The handwritten manuscripts, typed and compiled, were eventually published in Korea.

I was asked by a friend who was in charge of editing the Toronto Korean newspaper to write articles about religion for the Korean residents.

— Oh Kang-namExplaining the initial motivation for writing the book.

The book's transformation continued when, inspired by the success of Michael Sandel's "Justice: What Is It?", a publisher suggested revising Oh's work to fit the title "What is Religion?". After securing permission from the original publisher, Oh adapted his 2012 edition, which was later re-released in April of this year with further modifications and an appendix. This latest edition, he believes, more effectively conveys the profound meaning of religion to readers in Korea today.

At the time, there were no Korean typewriters or computers, so I wrote everything by hand and sent it to the newspaper office.

— Oh Kang-namDescribing the writing process in the early days.

Divided into four parts, 'The Path of Truth,' 'The Path of Freedom,' 'The Path of Faith,' and 'The Path Together', the book delves into fundamental questions about truth, the nature of religion, the concept of God, self-liberation, faith, love, and interfaith encounters. Appendices address dialogue between Buddhism and Christianity and predict religious shifts post-pandemic. Oh considers this book, his first and latest, his most cherished, akin to a first love.

The book basically took 'What meaning does religion have for us?' as its central theme.

— Oh Kang-namExplaining the core theme of his book.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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