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Minjung theology

Minjung theology (Korean: 민중신학; RR: Minjung Sinhak; lit. the people's theology) emerged in the 1970s from the experience of South Korean Christians in the struggle for social justice.[1] It is a people's theology, and, according to its authors, "a development of the political hermeneutics of the Gospel in terms of the Korean reality."[2] It is part of a wider Asian theological ferment, but it was not designed for export. It "is firmly rooted in a particular situation, and growing out of the struggles of Christians who embrace their own history as well as the universal message of the Bible."[3]

Hangul

민중신학
民衆神學

Minjung Sinhak

Minjung Sinhak

Theology[edit]

The word multitude is uniquely important within minjung theology. Minjung theology is a belief that is concerned with the experience of the lower classes or the multitude.[25] Ahn Byung Mu viewed Jesus as a collective event wherein Jesus comes as the Messiah for the poor and oppressed masses of people.[26] Minjung theology is a postcolonial theology. When the life of Jesus is interpreted within different Asian contexts he is often cast in a subversive light, defying both locally established and colonial powers. In Korea, Jesus took on the role of the suffering and impoverished of the democratization movement.[27] Minjung theology focuses on Jesus being the friend of the poor and his powerlessness during crucifixion leading up to his resurrection.[28] Minjung theology was inspired by the liberation theology being preached in Latin America.[29] Ahn Byung Mu is the biggest proponent of minjung theology.[30] Minjung theology was influenced by Shamanism and Messianism.[31] Minjung theology views the oppressed masses as subjects of change rather than objects of history.[8]

Criticism[edit]

In his book Grassroots Asian Theology, Simon Chan criticizes minjung theology for being an elitist interpretation of grassroots theology in South Korea that ignores the actual beliefs of the minjung.[32]


William Huang of the conservative MercatorNet has criticized believers in minjung theology for supporting restrictions on beef imports from America, encouraging peaceful dialogue with North Korea, and calling for the National Security Act to be repealed.[4]


Hyunsook Park of Christian Today has criticized believers in minjung theology for not taking a literal interpretation of the bible, being more concerned with collective sin and structural violence than it is with individual sins, being more concerned with the material world rather than the eternal afterlife, for favoring the poor over other groups of people, and for being affirming of LGBT+ people.[33]


Kim Jin-young of Christian Today has criticized proponents of minjung theology for putting Kim Il-sung, liberation, and labor before God. He also compared minjung theology with Juche.[34]


Lee Youngjin of Christian Today has criticized minjung theology for putting people first rather than God.[35]

Contextual theology

Christianity in Korea

David Kwang-sun Suh

Lee, Dong-won D. (1933). . Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

A Critical Analysis of Korean Minjung Theology: Overview, Critique and Alternative

Lee, Jung Young (1988). . Twenty-Third Publications. ISBN 978-0-89622-378-3.

An Emerging Theology in World Perspective: Commentary on Korean Minjung Theology

Schüttke-Scherle, Peter (1989). . P. Lang. ISBN 978-3-631-41890-1.

From Contextual to Ecumenical Theology?: A Dialogue Between Minjung Theology and "theology After Auschwitz"

Lee, Kwang Hee (1990). . Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia.

Evaluation of Minjung Theology from the Reformed Position: Critique of Its Religious Ground Motive

(1992). Messiah and Minjung: Christ's Solidarity with the People for New Life. Christian Conference of Asia. Urban Rural Mission. ISBN 978-962-7250-10-4.

Kim, Yong-bok

Son, Chang-Hee (2000). . University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-7618-1860-1.

Haan of Minjung Theology and Han of Han Philosophy

Suh, David Kwang-sun (2000-08-15). . Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-57910-509-9.

The Korean Minjung in Christ

Ucko, Hans (2002). . LIT Verlag Münster. ISBN 978-3-8258-5564-2.

The People and the People of God: Minjung and Dalit Theology in Interaction with Jewish-Christian Dialogue

Prasad, Manohar Chandra (2005). . Asian Trading Corporation. ISBN 978-81-7086-349-6.

The Book of Exodus and Dalit Liberation: With Reference to Minjung Theology

Kim, Hiheon (2008). . Peter Lang. ISBN 978-3-03911-735-2.

Minjung and Process: Minjung Theology in a Dialogue with Process Thought

Chung, Paul S.; Karkkainen, Veli Matti; Kyoung-Jae, Kim (2010-03-25). . ISD LLC. ISBN 978-0-227-90299-8.

Asian Contextual Theology for the Third Millennium: Theology of Minjung in Fourth-Eye Formation

Lee, Sang Taek (2012-10-24). . Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-089311-3.

Religion and Social Formation in Korea: Minjung and Millenarianism

Kwon, Jin-Kwan; Küster, Volker (2018-07-01). . Evangelische Verlagsanstalt. ISBN 978-3-374-05072-7.

Minjung Theology Today: Contextual and Intercultural Perspectives

(2019). Stories of Minjung Theology: The Theological Journey of Ahn Byung-Mu in His Own Words. SBL Press. ISBN 978-1-62837-257-1.

Ahn, Byung-Mu

at the Wayback Machine (archived 2011-05-25)

Minjung Theology Archive

at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-06-15)

MinjungTheology.net