- Collection:
- Interdenominational Theological Center Theses & Dissertations Collection
- Title:
- The impact of religio-cultural factors on church growth in Korea, 1992
- Creator:
- Cho, Se Ze
- Date of Original:
- 1992-01-01
- Subject:
- Dissertations, Academic
Degrees, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Church growth in Korea has been successful in a numerical sense. In order to accomplish the continuing growth of the church in the second century of Christian mission in Korea, it is necessary to examine the positive and negative factors of church growth in the past and the present and to establish some new strategies for the future mission in Korea. The historical background of Korean Christian mission is briefly outlined here. Internal factors of church growth in Korea are indicated. These include the vigorous activities of the Korean churches in Bible study, early morning prayer meetings, revival meetings and class meetings. Externally, the unstable political situation, unbalanced economic situation and rapid urbanization process have worked as positive factors for church growth in Korea. Religio-cultural factors have been most important for church growth. Korea had many religious traditions before the entry of Christianity. Each of these traditions had both positive and negative effects for Christian mission. The shamanistic concept of blessing has played a positive role for church growth. And the native belief in Hananim has been a positive factor for successful Christian mission. The Buddhist doctrine of salvation made it easier for the Korean people to accept the Christian doctrine of salvation. The Confucian familism has had a positive influence on Christian mission. On the other hand, the shamanistic influence resulted in selfish individualistic beliefs among Christians, which has been a negative factor for Christian mission. Also, the Confucian tradition of ancestor worship has been a serious obstacle to mission. Although early Christianity in Korea played a decisive role in the modernization of the nation , which was a powerful factor for Christian mission, the Christian tradition for social change has declined over time. And this change will be a negative factor for future mission in Korea. All of these positive and negative factors were tested by a survey of college students, and the hypotheses suggested above were all found to be true. With statistical methods, we distinguished some positive and negative factors for Christian mission. Based on this data, we have outlined some suggestions for successful future mission in Korea. Some of these are: reinforcement of family religious socialization, development of recreational and educational programs for young persons, reinterpretation of the practice of ancestor worship, provision of new moral standards with regard to the habits of smoking and drinking, and restoration of the active social service functions of the church.
Date of award: 1992-01-01
Degree type: dissertation
Degree name: Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Granting institution: Interdenominational Theological Center - Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/itc.td:1992_cho_se_z
- Holding Institution:
- Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, Ga.)
- Rights: