Protestant Christianity in South Korea: A historical sociology of its cultural reception and social impact, 1910-1989

This study offers a systematic historical sociology of the processes of "Christianization" in South Korea, thereby bringing into relief the determinant nexus of circumstances and factors that made possible Christianity's phenomenal growth. First, certain peculiar circumstances of Korean history, such as Japanese colonial rule, the Korean War and the partition of the country, afforded Christianity a unique opportunity to offer a compelling salvation ethos and promise of both personal and national empowerment. In addition, rapid industrialization and massive rural/urban migration--and accompanying social-psychological dispositions, i.e., profound sense of anxiety, deprivation, or dislocation--from the early 1960s to the end of 1980s further provided a fertile environment within which the imported faith grew.;Second, because the Church provided the basic tools of modernization and assumed a central role in the economic, political and social modernization of South Korea, many Koreans accepted its gospel as a means of entry into modern society and as an access to what is believed to be a more advanced civilization. Third, traditional Korean religious culture provided several important points of contact with Christianity, hence, allowing for the ready translation and adaptation of Christian beliefs and principles. In addition to religious affinities, traditional folk culture of Korea--folk tales, dramas, songs, and myths--contain themes and motifs that are analogous to Christian ideals, strengthening further the appeal of the imported faith.;Finally, the highly effective strategies and tactics of the missionaries and church organizations were able to take full advantage of their organizational skills and resources to reinforce their appeal among the masses. The Christian missions in due course were also able to develop an indigenous leadership structure of considerable talent, including those believed to be endowed with charismatic qualities and powers.;This study thus demonstrates that while no one single factor can explain the readiness of South Korea to accept Christianity, a convergence of factors--social context, ideology (religious and/or cultural affinity), organization, and leadership--has allowed Christianity to establish its forceful presence in South Korea.