Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rock]

Christian people, what are your feelings about living in Asia, or Korea, as just that: a Christian?

Do you find it harder than living as a Christian back home? I mean, is living in the culture somewhat of a mind cult, in and of itself? Do you find it too mass minded?

I sensed this keenly, or adversely, while over there and now look back. The whole structure of the society, and the collective consciousness itself, or personality, were indifferent to compassion for neighbor, impartial in judging others; bowing down to authorities, like your boss, seemed to be
too servile and un-Christian, and submitting to civil authority seemed to be lacking. Moreover, being looked at as sub-human, to some extent, ie., staring, laughing, name-calling etc., were undignifying. I found the collective personality there to be too unsettling to make practical matters of everyday life, like money, my sole concern.

I see these other fellows here skipping along, and wonder: How do you feel being there knowing the greed inherent in some of these hagwons, the mindset and amoral attitudes of the Koreans, the "eat, drink and be merry" syndrome of some you might hear here?

[death from above]

wow..

that's incredibly self righteous.


judge not lest you be judged

[laogaiguk]

Wow!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

As someone who studied religious literature and knows a lot of Korean Christians I find your post very interesting. First, let me say that there are some genuine Korean Christians who live a Christ-like life and don't make money their foremost concern. However, what is missing even amongst them is the rebellious nature of Christ - the Christ who stood up and called BS what it was, and was willing to sacrifice and look bad in the eyes of others to redress social injustice. Mainstream Protestantism over here is also more like the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah's Witnesses) back home, and few Korean Christians seem to realise that they can be good Christians without playing along with the expectations of what constitutes a good church-goer in the eyes of others. Instead Christians here seem to get depressed and feel guilty when they can't meet such expectations. And then there's the whole sexual repression / denial aspect of Christianity that only feeds into and off traditional Korean repression and denial.

On the whole I'd have to say that I wish Christianity had never been introduced into Korea.

[Juregen]

[RACETRAITOR]

Some of the worst, greediest people I've met here have been Christians. A former boss of mine once told his son in front of me, "Liars go to Hell," and then later ripped me off more than 2 million won. My girlfriend was ripped off around 2 million won that she donated to charity over a long period of time, which she later found out was being redirected from the woman she was helping to a church she didn't support.

Christianity seems to have a bad effect on a lot of Koreans. Maybe it eases their conscience a bit so they can do bad things and still feel righteous.

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Do I find it harder to be a Christian here than at home? Only in the very practical aspect that it's hard to find a convenient English service here.

But more broadly, the way you've phrased the question-- Christian good, non-Christian bad-- is too simple. Korea has Christians who are deeply devout and caring about other people, and people who join churches to be part of the club, or to get a free English lesson, or make business contacts, or any other motivation-- just like any western country. There are many problems with being a foreigner in Korea, but saying that nonbeliever ethics are to blame is crazy.

Like anywhere else, I know people at church who are really nice people, some who have questionable motivations, and I try to avoid the holy rollers. Korea lacks that sort of subtlety yet; we still see Christians with megaphones in parks disrupting Buddhist chants. I cringe when I see that. I wish faith here was more private and more genuine.

Ken:>

[RACETRAITOR]

Oh, I was reading what I wanted to hear. I thought the OP was chastising Korean Christians for having an "unChristian" attitude.

The idea that morality comes from religion is insane. I'm a highly moral person, and an atheist. One of my closest friends here is a Christian who enjoys paying for sex. The Bible says that prostitution is okay (or at least selling your daughter into it), but to me that's just sick.

[flotsam]

I think the OP makes a salient point: Korea truly is the modern Sodom and Gomorrah, and hell too. For sure.

I'm glad I come from the most religious modern society in the world today: America, where nothing in the social environment gets in the way of living up the the ideals of Christianity. Hallelujah and hell yeah!

Of course we always gots to be on the lookout for incursions by those soulles pinkos from up north yonder.

In conclusion: .

[cubanlord]

I try to be Christian (I fail miserably everyday); I repeatively ask God for forgiveness. Although I have my opinions on what you are discussing, I cannot give a hard comment. I'll let God sort it out.

[flotsam]

[cubanlord]

[flotsam]

[RACETRAITOR]

If you really want to impress God, just build a statue. Here's a beauty that all Americans can get behind.

[sjrm]