Description
Book SynopsisA major catalyst for the growth of Korean Christianity occurred at the turn of the twentieth century when Western missionaries encountered the religious landscape of Korea. These first-generation missionaries have been framed as destroyers of Korean religion and culture. Yet, as Sung-Deuk Oak shows in
The Making of Korean Christianity, existing Korean religious tradition also impacted the growth and character of evangelical Christianity. The melding of indigenous Korean religions and Christianity led to a highly localized Korean Christianity that flourished in the early modern era.
The Making of Korean Christianity sorts fact from myth in this exhaustive examination of the local and global forces that shaped Christianity on the Korean Peninsula.
The Making of Korean Christianity was recognized by the´??International Bulletin of Missionary Research as one of the top Fifteen Outstanding Books of 2013 for Mission Studies.
Trade ReviewA wealth of historical data from the turn of the last century on the formation of Korean Christianity is meticulously presented and carefully analyzed. -- S. Michael Ahn, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary -- Themelios
[ The Making of Korean Christianity ] is a must read for anyone who wants to study world Christianity. -- Gun Ho Lee, The Presbytery of New Hope -- Interpretation
The history of Protestantism in Korea is rich and complex, and Oak's work makes a valuable contribution toward understanding its origins and initial development. -- Sean C. Kim, University of Central Missouri -- Sungkyun Journal of East Asian Studies
In short, Sung-Deuk Oak has produced an insightful study of the history of Christianity in Korea. This outstanding book is a must-read for anyone interested in modern Korean history, cross-cultural interactions, and global Christian studies. -- Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, Pace University in New York -- The Asian Christian Review
[ The Making of Korean Christianity ] is highly recommended not only for those interested in the development of Korean Christianity, but also for those who want to explore the 'creative combination of the principle of Christian universality (vertical transcendence) and that of inculturation (horizontal adaptation)'. -- Gun Cheol Kim -- Africanus Journal
Table of Contents
- Illustrations, Tables, Diagrams, and Maps
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 God
- Search for the Korean Name for God, Han?ânim
- 2 Saviors
- Images of the Cross and Messianism
- 3 Spirits
- Theories of Shamanism and Practice of Exorcism
- 4 Ancestors
- Confucian and Christian Memorial Services
- 5 Messages
- Chinese Literature and Korean Translations
- 6 Rituals
- Revivals and Prayers
- Conclusion
- Appendix
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
