Re-imaging God in Korean Context from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Image Matters to Theology (and You)

The chief goal of the course will be to understand a rapid growth and dynamic development of the Korean Protestant churches and indigenous theology by exploring various images of God in Korea. The first module will focus on an important methodological shift in contemporary theology from conceptual intellect to the human imagination.

God as Father: Psychoanalytic Approaches to God-Image

The second module will discuss one’s formation of God-image as a Father with a comprehensive understanding of Freud’s psychoanalysis since many psychoanalytic theorists have argued that one’s early experience of parental relationship has an unavoidable, unconscious impact upon the formation of one’s own God-images.

God as Heaven: Korean Confucian Culture and God-Image

The module 3 will examine the image of a heavenly God in the cultural context of Korea with the emphasis on Korean Confucian understanding of the "Chon" (heaven). Noting the collective (cultural) representations of the "Chon" (heaven), the interplay among transcendental and immanent images of God in the formation of the Korean Protestant churches will be discussed.

God as Rice: A Dialectical Imagination of Minjung Theologians

The module 4 will focus on Kwok Pui-lan’s proposal of biblical interpretation as “Dialogical Imagination” in which the Korean Minjung theology strengthens the power of theological imagination. This module will demonstrate how the immanent image of God as rice to the Korean Minjung theology became the central theme of the Christian social movement in Korea.

God as Spirit: Where Pentecostal Spirituality and Liberationist Spirituality Meet

The last module will first examine how shamanistic beliefs affected the healing ministry of Christianity through the Pentecostal movement in Korea. The module will show that both the Korean Pentecostal group and the liberationist group can commonly interpret God as Spirit to be a fundamental base for their theological imagination.

Good to know

Know what's good

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, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the importance of the image of God for understanding Korean Christianity, which is significant for learners who want to understand the dynamics of Korean society and culture

Taught by Soo-Young Kwon, a well-respected scholar in the field of Korean theology, which provides assurance of the quality and depth of the course

Cover topics like the interplay of transcendental and immanent images of God, which are essential for learners who want to gain a comprehensive understanding of Korean theology

Examines the impact of shamanistic beliefs on Korean Christianity, which provides valuable insights for learners who want to explore the intersection of traditional and modern religious practices in Korea

Includes case studies of Korean Minjung theology, which helps learners understand the role of social and political movements in shaping theological thought

Requires background knowledge in Korean history and culture, which may be a barrier for learners who are completely new to the topic

Reviews summary

Korean religious context appreciation

Learners say this engaging course on Korean Christianity is well organized and highly informative. The lecturer is considered an excellent instructor who presents content in a clear and concise manner. Students remark on the interesting, insightful, and thoughtful content covered, noting that the reflection questions at the end of each unit are exceptionally helpful. Overall, students agree that this course is well worthwhile and highly recommend it.

Helpful reflection questions at the end of each unit.

"The course content is interesting, the instructor is engaging, and the course is well organized overall."

"The reflection questions at the end of each unit are especially helpful."

"I really liked doing this course."

Course is well-organized and structured.

"The course content is interesting, the instructor is engaging, and the course is well organized overall."

"Explain abstract concepts and difficulties in a simple way."

"The teacher is brilliant. I really liked doing this course."

Excellent instructor who is engaging and informative.

"The lecturer is very edutaining and informative! Such an amazing course. "

"I really loved how this course invited us to reconsider the hidden assumptions we make in our attempts of talking about the divine and instead allows us to invoke deep reconstructions of our own traditions and hermeneutics on their cultural basis but also how these ideas can additionally aid us in our ever-growing and expanding idea of who or what God might be."

"The teacher is brilliant. I really liked doing this course."

Insightful and thought-provoking content.

"This is a really outstanding and highly informative course on the development of Korean Christianity."

"Professor Kwon has got me pondering not only the cultural and historical differences between the Korean creative religious imagination and the Western one, but also the anthropology (especially linguistic anthropology) of religious experience and thought in general."

"I am very satisfied with the complete course."

Some students found the course to be too short.

"Although this course is very short and in my opinion too abbreviated, I did enjoy the course and found the subject matter somewhat enlightening, having not considered some of these issues before taking it. Thanks so much."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Re-imaging God in Korean Context with these activities:

Review Korean Culture and History

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Reviewing Korean culture and history will deepen your understanding of the religious landscape of Korea.

Browse courses on Korean History

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Read a book on Korean history.
Watch a documentary on Korean culture.
Visit a Korean museum or cultural center.

Review: Korean History

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Review the history of Korea to enhance your understanding of the cultural context in which Korean theology developed.

Browse courses on Korean History

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Read historical books or articles on Korea's pre-colonial, colonial, and modern eras.
Watch documentaries or lectures about significant historical events and figures in Korean history.

Explore online resources on Korean theology

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There are many helpful online resources that can supplement your learning in this course.

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Find a reputable website or blog on Korean theology.
Follow the author on social media.
Sign up for an email newsletter.

Five other activities

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Read 'Korean Minjung Theology' by Kwok Pui-lan

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of Korean Minjung theology, which is a major topic in the course.

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the book carefully.
Take notes on the main points.

Join a study group

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Discussing the course material with peers can help you solidify your understanding.

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Find a study group on campus or online.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
Participate in group projects.

Practice identifying images of God in Korean culture

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Practicing identifying images of God will help you develop a deeper understanding of the course material.

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Find images of God in Korean culture.
Analyze the images and identify the different ways that God is represented.
Write a short paper on your findings.

Write a blog post on a topic related to the course

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Writing about the course material will help you process and retain the information.

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Write a blog post that is clear and concise.
Share your blog post with others.
Choose a topic that you are interested in.
Research the topic.

Volunteer at a local Korean church

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Volunteering at a Korean church will give you firsthand experience of Korean culture and theology.

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Find a local Korean church.
Contact the church and ask about volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer your time.

Career center

Learners who complete Re-imaging God in Korean Context will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Korean Studies Professor

Korean Studies Professors teach and research about Korea's history, culture, and society. This course would be very beneficial for Korean Studies Professors who want to learn more about Korean theology. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Professor of Theology

Professors of Theology teach and research in the field of theology. They may also write books and articles on theological topics. This course would be very beneficial for Professors of Theology who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Minister

Ministers are religious leaders who provide spiritual guidance and support to their congregations. They may also perform other duties, such as preaching, teaching, and counseling. This course would provide Ministers with knowledge of the development of theological methods in relation to Korea's cultural context. This understanding would help them better understand the needs of their Korean congregation and minister to them more effectively.

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Theological Researcher

Theological Researchers conduct research on theological topics. They may also write books and articles on their research findings. This course would be a good fit for Theological Researchers who want to learn about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Missionary

Missionaries work to spread their religious beliefs to new areas. They may also provide social services, such as education and healthcare, to the people they serve. This course would be helpful for Missionaries who are working in Korea or who want to learn more about Korean theology. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Religious Studies Teacher

Religious Studies Teachers teach about different religions and their beliefs. They may also teach about the history of religion and the role of religion in society. This course would be a good fit for Religious Studies Teachers who want to learn about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Chaplain

Chaplains provide spiritual guidance and support to people in various settings, such as hospitals, prisons, and the military. This course would be useful for Chaplains who work with Korean people or who want to learn more about Korean theology. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Theology Librarian

Theology Librarians help people find and use resources on theological topics. They may also provide instruction on how to use library resources and how to conduct theological research. This course may be useful for Theology Librarians who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course will provide insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Religious Counselor

Religious Counselors provide counseling services to people from a religious perspective. This course could be helpful for Religious Counselors who work with Korean people or who want to learn more about Korean theology. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Interfaith Dialogue Facilitator

Interfaith Dialogue Facilitators help people of different faiths to understand each other and to work together. This course could be beneficial for Interfaith Dialogue Facilitators who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course would provide them with insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Theological Archivist

Theological Archivists manage and preserve historical documents and artifacts related to theology. This course may be useful for Theological Archivists who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course will provide insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Theology Editor

Theology Editors edit and proofread theological works. They may also help authors to develop their ideas and to write clearly and effectively. This course may be useful for Theology Editors who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course will provide insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Theological Writer

Theological Writers work with academics in writing up their findings. They help present the work in a way that is easy to understand. This course may be useful for Theological Writers who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course will provide insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Theology Translator

Theology Translators translate theological works from one language to another. This course may be useful for Theology Translators who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course will provide insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Theological Consultant

Theological Consultants provide advice on theological matters to individuals, organizations, and businesses. This course may be useful for Theological Consultants who want to learn more about Korean theology and its cultural context. The course will provide insights into the dynamic development of Korean churches and indigenous theology, as well as the different images of God in Korea.

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Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Re-imaging God in Korean Context.

Provided

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Explores the development of Minjung theology in Korea, which emphasizes the liberation of the oppressed and marginalized.

Provided: The God Who Walks in the Middle of Your...

Kindle Edition

The Mind of God

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Provides an ethnographic study of a Korean village, exploring the ways in which Christianity has shaped the lives and identities of its residents.

The Mind of God: Neuroscience, Faith, and a Search...

Paperback

Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Literature

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Provides a thorough overview of the development of Christian theology in Korea, focusing on the unique cultural and historical context that has shaped Korean Christianity.

Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Literature:...

Kindle Edition