DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to provide Korean students with theological analysis and assessment of the current theological, ethical, and cultural issues in the Korean Church including the immigrant churches in America, such as secularization, fundamentalism, religious pluralism, mysticism, woman in office, ecumenism, homosexuality, church growth, pastor succession and worship renewal. Also, it aims for them to be acquainted with a history of Korean theology as well as Korean religions that is helpful for in-depth understanding of such issues.

Young Korean pastors who are educated in foreign institutions are mostly confronted with a difficulty to adjust to the Korean churches due to the poor knowledge and proper discernment of some current issues that are sensitive and decisive in the Korean churches. This course will help them to understand those issues prior to meeting such situations and successfully respond to them in their Korean ministry.

This course will consist of lectures and discussions in bilingual manner, i.e., English and Korean due to the lingual variety of Korean students at Fuller. The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions.

Han, Soong Hong. A History of Korean Theology. 2 vols. Jangshin University Press, 1996.

Hertig, Young Lee. Cultural Tug of War: The Korean Immigrant Family and Church in Transition. Abingdon Press, 2002.

Kim, Myung Hyuk. Diagnosis of the Current Issues in the Korean Church. Kyoujang, 1998.

Korean Society of Oriental Philosophy, ed. Ontology and Anthropology of Oriental Philosophy. Yonsei University Press, 1982.

Kwon, Ho Youn, ed. Korean Americans and Their Religious Pilgrims and Missionaries from a Different Shore. Penn State University Press, 2001.

Lee, Sang Hyun, ed. Korean American Ministry: A Resource Book. PCUSA, 1993.

Rhee, Jung S. Secularization and Sanctification: A Study of Karl Barth's Doctrine of Sanctification and Its Contextual Application to the Korean Church. Free University Press, 1995. Chap 4 and 5.

_________. Christianity in the Secularized Age. Ire Books, 2000.

1. Class attendance and active participation in discussions.

2. 1500 pages of reading from the required reading list.

3. Two papers on two selected issues.

Korean (listening only, reading or writing ability not required).

Elective.

None.