Sergei Sevriugin

PhD Candidate in Religious Studies

Supervisors:  Sara Rahmani and Lina Verchery

Scientization of Religion on the example of Won Buddhism

Sergei holds his first master's degree in Religious Studies from Academy of Korean Studies in South Korea and the second one in International Relations from International University of Japan. His primary scholarly focus centres on the dynamic relations between modernity and religion. Majority of his work is intricately woven into this fascinating intersection, contributing to a deeper understanding of how these forces influence and shape contemporary societies, especially beyond Western world. 

He is now pursuing his doctoral degree, investigating the interplay between religion and science in Won Buddhism. The primary emphasis will be on the scientization, which signifies the modern tendency to incorporate scientific discourse into religious frameworks for legitimation purpose. For this Sergei seeks to deconstruct and analyse Won Buddhist practices and rhetoric as a case study, delving into their religious, anthropological, and sociological dimensions.

The main objective is to scrutinise the specific narratives used by Won Buddhism to integrate into contemporary society and assess their impact on the power dynamics, identities, and worldviews of their target audience in Korea and New Zealand. This project sheds new light on the current state of religiosity and the ongoing process of its reconceptualization.

Contact:  sergei.sevriugin@vuw.ac.nz