Chung Hyun Kyung
Encyclopedia
Chung Hyun Kyung is a Korean
Christian
theologian. She is a lay theologian
of the Presbyterian Church of Korea
, and is also an Associate Professor of Ecumenical Theology at Union Theological Seminary
in the U.S.A.
She graduated from Ewha Women's University
in Seoul
with the B.A. (1979) and the M.A. (1981). She holds the M.Div. from the School of Theology at Claremont (1984), a diploma from the Women's Theological Center in Boston (1984), and the Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary (1989).
In 1990, she introduced Asian women's theology with her book Struggle to be the Sun Again.
In 1991, she was invited to speak at a World Council of Churches
gathering in Canberra
, Australia
. Her speech created a furor and she was accused of syncretism
, that is, combining Christian
teachings and practices with elements of other traditions. Her retort, however, was:
In the same interview, she challenged the Western values imposed on the Third World
:
Her teaching and research interests include feminist and eco-feminist theologies and spiritualities
from Asia
, Africa
and Latin America
; Christian-Buddhist dialogue; disease and healing in varied religious backgrounds; mysticism
and revolutionary
social change; as well as the history
and critical issues of various Asian Christian theologies.
Her best-known book is Struggle to be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women's Theology (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1990). In it, she responds to the emerging liberation theology
which argues for Christianity's preferential option for the poor. She interprets the Gospel
through her experience as an Asian woman:
"Doing theology is a personal and a political activity. As a Korean woman, I do theology in search of what it means to be fully human
in my struggle for wholeness and in my people's concrete historical fight for freedom
." (1990: 1)
Korean people
The Korean people are an ethnic group originating in the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. Koreans are one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogeneous groups in the world.-Names:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theologian. She is a lay theologian
Lay theologian
A lay theologian is a theologian who is not an ordained clergyman.Among lay theologians are the following:* George Abbot * Thomas J. J. Altizer* Joseph T. Bayly* Edward Musgrave Blaiklock* Nicholas Cabasilas* Chung Hyun Kyung...
of the Presbyterian Church of Korea
Presbyterian Church of Korea
The Presbyterian Church of Korea or PCK is a mainline Protestant denomination based in South Korea and currently has the second largest membership of any Presbyterian denomination in the world...
, and is also an Associate Professor of Ecumenical Theology at Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
in the U.S.A.
She graduated from Ewha Women's University
Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University is a private women's university in central Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the city's largest institutions of higher learning and currently the world's largest female educational institute. It is one of the best-known universities in South Korea, and often considered to...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
with the B.A. (1979) and the M.A. (1981). She holds the M.Div. from the School of Theology at Claremont (1984), a diploma from the Women's Theological Center in Boston (1984), and the Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary (1989).
In 1990, she introduced Asian women's theology with her book Struggle to be the Sun Again.
In 1991, she was invited to speak at a World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
gathering in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Her speech created a furor and she was accused of syncretism
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
, that is, combining Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
teachings and practices with elements of other traditions. Her retort, however, was:
- If they ask me, “Are you a syncretist?” I say, “You are right, I am a syncretist, but so are you.” My response is that I know I am a syncretist, but you don’t know you are a syncretist because you have hegemonic power ... non-Christian cultures, when they try to interpret the gospelGospelA gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
out of their life experience, they are syncretists! But they are just being true to their identity, history and culture. (“(Chung) Hyun Kyung,” no author given, Zion’s Herald, v. 177 no. 5 (Sept/Oct, 2003):14, complete interview pp. 14–16.)
In the same interview, she challenged the Western values imposed on the Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
:
- "I think in order to really heal the world we need the 'wisdom of darkness.' This can be the Third WorldThird WorldThe term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
, dark people, women, or our 'shadows,' ... all the things we do not want to confront within ourselves, so we project them onto others and call them terrorists. So, I think that we need 'endarkenment' for a while, not enlightenment, to heal the world." (interview, “(Chung) Hyun Kyung,” no author given, Zion’s Herald, v. 177 no. 5 (Sept/Oct, 2003):16, complete interview pp. 14–16.).
Her teaching and research interests include feminist and eco-feminist theologies and spiritualities
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
; Christian-Buddhist dialogue; disease and healing in varied religious backgrounds; mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
and revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
social change; as well as the history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and critical issues of various Asian Christian theologies.
Her best-known book is Struggle to be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women's Theology (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1990). In it, she responds to the emerging liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
which argues for Christianity's preferential option for the poor. She interprets the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
through her experience as an Asian woman:
"Doing theology is a personal and a political activity. As a Korean woman, I do theology in search of what it means to be fully human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
in my struggle for wholeness and in my people's concrete historical fight for freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
." (1990: 1)
Further reading
- Interview with Chung Hyun Kyung in Zion's Herald magazine, Sept/Oct 2003
- Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians
- World Council of Churches
- Struggle to be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women's Theology (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1990)
- ISBN 0-88344-684-7 for Struggle to be the Sun Again (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 1990)