아시아의 종교적 다원성 속에서의 선교적 과제

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국선교신학회
· 수록지 정보 : 선교신학 / 6권
· 저자명 : 황순환

영어초록

This thesis critically analyzes the present condition of Christianity in Asia. It notes the shift of World mission from a Western perspective to Asian perspective. It also provides a descriptive analysis of the factors affecting the spread of Christianity in Asia. Concrete recommendations are drawn to fortify Asian missions. Furthermore, this thesis discusses the role of Korean Christians, as a majority, in the spread of the gospel. The Christian population in Asia is considered statistically as a marginalized denomination with less than ten percent (10%) share of the total world Christian population. However, considering the thirty percent (30%) Christians around the world, Asian Christians constitute a minute proportion to Ule face of the Christian faith. This is taken in the context of a global perspective that Christian Mission in Asiastill continues to be in the state of passivity despite the numbers of missions sent abroad to spread the gospel. The 21st century World Mission has shifted its target to the Asian third world countries. W. B?lman stressed that the center of mission is moving towards the 3rd world countries. Missions have taken into account the number of population and the di stinctive features of Asia. W. B?lman also noted that before the 21st century the Christian population among the whites is more overwhelming than the nonwhite Christians. In the turn of the 21st century, the growth has changed. This is manifested in the growth of non-white Chri stian population in Asia after the evangeli zation by the western missionaries. To date, the 3rd world Christians has taken quantum leaps to share the gospel to their neighboring countries. Despite the missions conducted by churches and Christians in Asia, the people has stayed steadfast to passivity to the acceptance of the gospel. One distinct feature of Asian roots is its various cultural heritage. These roots have been celebrated and preserved to take its truest color. The spirit evolved by this heritage enlivens the Asians. Throughout the years missions have approached these cultures in the light of western ideology and theology. The differences created a conflict and resulted to the passivity of Asians to Christian faith. The author agrees with Aloysius Pieris that poverty is a major factor in the resistance of the Asians to accept the gospel. The control of st ru ctured institutions, s uch as government, eco nomy and education, have hindered the influx of new fa ith. Aloysius Pieris calls this forced poverty. Asian countries have been the crad les of world religions. The growth of these religions all ied the growth of civilization, which strengthened believers in Asia. Some of these world religions are: Shintoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and even Christianity. These religions have guided believers through their respective scriptures and the tides of civilization strengthened these faiths among Asians. Missions have been idealistic to penetrate the threshold of these major religions and make them accept the Christian faith. But the plurality of religions curtailed the light of Christian faith to the Asians. The Asian population plays a vital challenge to the world Christian Mission. It constitutes a big portion of the world population in which the Christian faith has not reached. The immersion of missionaries to do the task of sharing the gospel has been in vain. Passivity of Christians has always been the reason for the resistance. However, this research, P9sits that mission should be revolutionized to achieve its goal of sharing the gospel. Choan Seng Song suggests Transpositional Theology to carry out the mission. This is the change of approach to introduce the gospel based on Asian perspective. Aloysius Pieris calls this as Asian style gospel. Adaptation to the different cultures in Asia through mission research will play crucial role in the attainment of the task. With the adequate knowledge of the culture, genuine empathy to the experiences, situation, condition and status of Asians will ease the immersion of missionaries in a different culture. The establishment of oneness to the particular group of Asian will be timely for the inculcation of the Christian scripture. Thus, increasing the chance to spread the gospel successfully. Since oneness is very important to the spread of the gospel, Asians are more capable of understanding, adapting, empathizing with fellow Hinduism, Asians. This is called by Choan Seng Song as the 3rd ideology that only Asians can see the Asian roots. Theology school system should restructure its westernized method of teaching theology. Western missionaries have left Asian Theology schools with teachings designed in western context and it has effected the spread of the gospel by Asians also using the western approach. Students of theology will appreciate more the teachings of, the gospel when the context is based on their Asian background and experiences. Appreciative students will be potent instruments in the spreading of the truth. Forced poverty as stated earlier has been identified by Aloysius Pieris to hinder the spread of Christianity, which is in contrast to voluntary poverty. Voluntary poverty manifests the features of a true Christian. He who chooses to be poor truly believes in the doctrine and wholeheartedly serves for the spread of the gospe. He is a selfless servant of the church and tries to live a life that of Jesus Christ. World mission is optimistic that the realization of its vision will be achieved. Asian Christians comprises only less than ten percent (10%) of the Asian population. Despite the Chri stianityis unpopularity in Asia, Korea has reached a majority in number. Recently, statistics shows that twenty five percent (25%) of the Korean population are Christians. Unlike other Asian countries with framed religions such as Japan (Shintoism), India (Hinduism/ Buddism), China (Confucianism), Korea has opened its horizon to other religions, which includes Christianity . Historically, Korea has its religious roots in Shamanism. In the passing of time, Christian missionarie have immersed with traditions and belief of Korea. Other philosophies (Confucianism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism) have also found their way to shape Korean belief. Since Christian population in Korea is overwhelming now , Christians are to take part in the spreading of the gospel in Asia. This is the role of the Korean Christians. With the recommendations above, Korean Missions are expected to prosper in its missiological task in religious plurality in Asia.

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