Article

2016-04-10 China-Japan-Koreas

How has Christianity become so popular in South Korea?

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Posted by ryuge 2016-04-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 The article discusses the how, but falls flat on the why. The Koreans seem to have a bit of the roboticness that you see in other social organisms, such as bees.

As a side note, I checked and found the percentage of Mormons among the population, whom you would expect to have a field day in such a place, was actually less than 2 one-hundredths of a percent. Early in the article someone says that Chiristiany is largely corrupt. I suspect some sort of persecution is going on.

Posted by Fairbanks 2016-04-10 04:28|| 2016-04-10 04:28|| Front Page Top

#2 Well, good to see Christianity prospering somewhere---it's certainly aren't doing well in Europe & fUSA.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2016-04-10 06:33|| 2016-04-10 06:33|| Front Page Top

#3 The article discusses the how, but falls flat on the why. The Koreans seem to have a bit of the roboticness that you see in other social organisms, such as bees.

The Koreans have been in the historical position of being caught between the two powers of Japan and China, and subject to invasions and occupations. Yet, they have retained a specific tribal/national identity (though the last round the Japanese tried their worst/best to wipe it out). One just has to walk down a Korean street to observe store signs both in Chinese and Hangul, along with the clear Roman letters TEL: followed by the Indo-arabic numbers. Asking among the people why this is, the usual reply was 'it works'. To them the display is simply a glyph.

The question that should have been asked was "what purpose does religion have to play in society". When you answer that, then the Korean reply 'it works' answers the title's question.

The Koreans, more than their neighbors China and Japan, appear to be quicker to adopt not just products or end items, but also the underlying processes and behaviors that leads to the end result without cultural or social inhibitions. It works. In this case the adaptation of the social function of religion in society to integrate Christian based norms and practices.

Posted by Procopius2k 2016-04-10 08:56|| 2016-04-10 08:56|| Front Page Top

#4 Korea, traditionally, was a strongly feudal society, with everyone in their place. If one wanted to rebel against that, what with all of your neighbors, for hundreds of years, wanting to invade and make the whole country serfs in their system, one would look for an ethos that was against that.

Most Koreans who are Christians are Methodists. Considering the historical Methodist Church rather than the American mainline one, this shouldn't be surprising.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2016-04-10 12:05|| 2016-04-10 12:05|| Front Page Top

#5 ...When I was in Korea 32 years ago, Christianity was growing quickly. This should not be a surprise to anyone who's been paying attention.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2016-04-10 12:26|| 2016-04-10 12:26|| Front Page Top

#6 China's gotta be thrilled

Posted by Frank G 2016-04-10 12:33|| 2016-04-10 12:33|| Front Page Top

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