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Gamecock
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
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 Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:36 am Post subject: Korean Christianity and Moral Issues |
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This is a branch-off from a thread which is dying methinks. I'm interested in observations and honest opinions. Ya don't have to tell me Christianity is stupid. Thanks.
Stevemcgarret wrote:
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Asians do of course have their own moral compass and those Koreans who are Christians might have a more Western orientation toward guilt, which would be interesting to research. |
This idea caught my attention. I, too, would be interested in what issues provoke guilt among Korean Christians compared to, say, Evangelical Christians in the U.S.
From my experience working for several "Christian" Korean employers, it seemed that lying and stealing were not moral dilemmas at all. They had no problem treating their employees unjustly and then teaching Sunday school every weekend.
Yet, I don't see many of the hot-button moral issues raised by churches here that dominate American Christendom. Abortion is rampant here. Quite often churches share the same building with houses of prostitution. I once saw the doors of a church directly across from the entrance to a massage parlor. Perhaps they don't speak out in order to "save face," and keep the image of Korea strong. I know that Korean evangelicalism has a strong cultural mix of Confucianism (in the same way American evangelicalism is often mixed with patriotism). I'm just curious what moral issues are BIG here for Christians. |
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markhan
Joined: 02 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Korean Christianity and Moral Issues |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
This is a branch-off from a thread which is dying methinks. I'm interested in observations and honest opinions. Ya don't have to tell me Christianity is stupid. Thanks.
Stevemcgarret wrote:
| Quote: |
Asians do of course have their own moral compass and those Koreans who are Christians might have a more Western orientation toward guilt, which would be interesting to research. |
This idea caught my attention. I, too, would be interested in what issues provoke guilt among Korean Christians compared to, say, Evangelical Christians in the U.S.
From my experience working for several "Christian" Korean employers, it seemed that lying and stealing were not moral dilemmas at all. They had no problem treating their employees unjustly and then teaching Sunday school every weekend.
Yet, I don't see many of the hot-button moral issues raised by churches here that dominate American Christendom. Abortion is rampant here. Quite often churches share the same building with houses of prostitution. I once saw the doors of a church directly across from the entrance to a massage parlor. Perhaps they don't speak out in order to "save face," and keep the image of Korea strong. I know that Korean evangelicalism has a strong cultural mix of Confucianism (in the same way American evangelicalism is often mixed with patriotism). I'm just curious what moral issues are BIG here for Christians. |
Well, for awhile, Korean Christians were raising big stink about how this big Christian nation was justifying the invasion in the righteous name of "God." That was kind of BIG. |
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jazblanc77
Joined: 22 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| Where's Captain Porridge when you need him?! |
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jaderedux
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: Lurking outside Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Same ol' issues western ones have. ABORTION IS WRONG HOWEVER DEATH PENALTY FRY EM...guess it's a matter of timing.
Some don't feel this way but alot do. Killing Abortion doctors is fine cuz well you know.
Koreans do NOT hold the all the cards in the hypocrisy deck.
Jade |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| jaderedux wrote: |
| ABORTION IS WRONG HOWEVER DEATH PENALTY FRY EM...guess it's a matter of timing. |
To make the DP seem wrong, just tell them you are aborting a man in his 200th trimester. Abortion is wrong, ain't it? |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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My favourite conversation with a Korean Christian friend who chainsmokes, loves to drink to excess, and make lewed comments about women:
'So we can meet for lunch at 12.30 tomorrow then'?
'Yeah sure. Oh sh*t! I have to go to church'!
From another Korean Christian friend (who also chainsmokes and loves to drink), after coming to the realisation that the bargirl at the rooms salon he'd just been chatting with for the past three hours was being insincere.
'She said she is interested in me but I think she is only interested in my fucking money'.
Well no shit, Sherlock!
I thank Jesus Christ personally that I wasn't born into a Korean Christian family. |
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Moldy Rutabaga
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps because I go to church (I don't dress like my avatar!) I can give a different perspective. There's been a lot of antagonism toward Christians on this board lately. Not all of us feel the same way on abortion, let alone attacking doctors who perform one!  That's my nag for the day.
For some reason Korean Christians seem to be much more worried about their place in the congregation than about public activism. I can only guess that Koreans do everything in a club, church included, and so all your time and energy is spent on being with the people in the 'club', and not with outsiders.
Would be want it otherwise? Even if I'm more or less on their side, I'm irritated by Christian activist groups in the west attempting to dictate public policy. Maybe it's a good thing Korean Christians aren't trying to tell everyone what to do, other than the odd overamplified hymn in the train station park.
The downside to Christianity here is that some congregations can be a little cultish (yes, I know what the joke is here, but hear me out) and are pushy in how members conform to the group. Another downside is that some people seem to be in the church to make social connections or belong to something rather than out of personal belief. For most here, it's still a new tradition, and for some just a fad.
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| They had no problem treating their employees unjustly and then teaching Sunday school every weekend. |
Yes, I've seen that with my own eyes. As with anywhere else, unfortunately, no license is required to be a Christian.
This is my last day in Korea. Best wishes all.
Ken:> |
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trinity24651
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Bye Ken!!! Have a great time in Las Vegas!!! |
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seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject: re: |
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| Yu_Bum_suk wrote: |
My favourite conversation with a Korean Christian friend who chainsmokes, loves to drink to excess, and make lewed comments about women:
'So we can meet for lunch at 12.30 tomorrow then'?
'Yeah sure. Oh sh*t! I have to go to church'!
From another Korean Christian friend (who also chainsmokes and loves to drink), after coming to the realisation that the bargirl at the rooms salon he'd just been chatting with for the past three hours was being insincere.
'She said she is interested in me but I think she is only interested in my *beep* money'.
Well no *beep*, Sherlock!
I thank Jesus Christ personally that I wasn't born into a Korean Christian family. |
Just because a person calls themself a Christian does not necessarily mean they are a Christian.
Peace |
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ED209
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:49 am Post subject: Re: re: |
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| seoulunitarian wrote: |
Just because a person calls them self a Christian does not necessarily mean they are a Christian.
Peace |
What does? |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:43 am Post subject: Re: re: |
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Actions speak louder than words. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:08 am Post subject: Re: re: |
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The only way to be Christian is to say you're a Christian. You can be a soldier who kills people and still say you're a Christian. You can go to the rub n' tug after your wife goes to sleep every weekend, skip church all the time, steal money from your company, and dream of stealing your neighbour's wife, and still be Christian. It has nothing to do with behaviour.
If you are a moral person who lives a good, clean life, it doesn't automatically make you Christian. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:41 am Post subject: |
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Some of the same problems found among American Christians can be found among Korean ones. American Evangelicals are often focused on anti-Socialism, redistribution of the wealth, and keeping up with their neighbours. There is a strong materialistic culture here and some, according to the OP, believe it is compatible to call yourself a Christian and cheat the waygook on contracts, pension, throwing an ashtray at a Korean employee, if you are angry at him, or perhaps calling a good teacher a bad teacher etc... I found it hard to explain, for example, that my ex-boss's trying to basically lie to me to get me to go to a recruiter, so she can recoup the costs of bringing me here was immoral to some. I don't know why. Bringing a foreigner is part of the cost of business and lying to him to get money you are not entitled to is quite immoral.
I don't think it is the responsibility of a Korean church if there is a so-called barber shop nearby. Why would it be the fault of Korean church attendees? Are you saying there is a difference between Catholic and Buddhist Koreans as compared to the Protestant Evangelicals you are probably alluding to? |
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seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:44 am Post subject: Re: re: |
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| ED209 wrote: |
| seoulunitarian wrote: |
Just because a person calls them self a Christian does not necessarily mean they are a Christian.
Peace |
What does? |
What they do. Christ said, "They (nonbelievers) will know you (bleivers) by your love."
Peace |
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seoulunitarian
Joined: 06 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:45 am Post subject: Re: re: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
The only way to be Christian is to say you're a Christian. You can be a soldier who kills people and still say you're a Christian. You can go to the rub n' tug after your wife goes to sleep every weekend, skip church all the time, steal money from your company, and dream of stealing your neighbour's wife, and still be Christian. It has nothing to do with behaviour.
If you are a moral person who lives a good, clean life, it doesn't automatically make you Christian. |
For the true Christian, it has everything to do with behavior. See Christ's words above. You wish it had nothing to do with behavior so you could continue your attacks on everything Christian/religious.
Peace |
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