<i>“If we cannot interpret God's omnipotence and the occurrence of evil, isn't our view of God itself wrong? If we're solving a math problem and it keeps failing, maybe we should suspect that the formula used to solve it is wrong.” - In body text</i>
A theological book written by a layman, 『The Evolution of God, New Christianity』 asks some very provocative questions. The author continued to pose questions to the church from a layperson's perspective, but was very disappointed with the answers that came back. The church's response was that "unconditional faith is good faith" or "it's God's will, even if you don't understand it, so you have to believe it." The author, who was so disappointed by these answers that he no longer attends church - in South Korea, we call these churchgoers "Canaanites" - has carefully documented the background of his own theological studies.
The author's father fought a "democratization struggle" against South Korea's military dictatorship and was imprisoned and tortured for it. This influence led the author to ask a fundamental question: why would a father who was doing the right thing as "God's people" suffer?
The author recorded his thoughts through a wide range of studies, from the Minjung theology he encountered in college to his later teacher, Mr. Ryu Young-mo, Da-seok. The book, 『The Evolution of God, New Christianity』, is a compilation of his fierce thoughts and reflections, which he published online more than a decade ago.
『The Evolution of God, A New Christianity is the culmination of his hard work and reflection, and is a compilation of articles he has been writing sporadically online for over a decade.
the beginning of a problem consciousness - Paul
The author sees the beginning of the Christian confusion in 2000 as the apostle Paul. If it weren't for Paul, we wouldn't even have heard the name "Jesus" today. But since the teachings of Jesus were fossilized into "doctrine" by this very Apostle Paul, those who wish to follow Jesus fully must overcome Paul fully.
The author traces how Paul came to terms with the experience of 'Damascus' and what followed, arguing that it began with his 'accumulated experience and knowledge' as a devout Jew. In a detailed comparison of the teachings of Jesus and Paul, the author explains that Paul established a "Christian" community that was distinct from the immediate disciples of Jesus.
A Challenge to Christian Doctrine
The author takes a sharp scalpel to Christian doctrine that began with the teachings of the Apostle Paul. A lot of those concerns come up in testimonials. Pastor Kim Yong-min called it "a sick, bitter, unacceptable story." Pastor Yang Hee-sam said, “It is an interpretation of the Bible that can be shocking to some people.” But the author didn't go around. Rather, it was a head-on challenge, as critic Kim Seong-soo said, "killing Paul and gaining the real Paul again."
real cases of faith
The author divided the book's format into three parts. The first part is called "Reconstructing the Faith," a reference to the aforementioned Paul, the second is called "Reviewing the Faith," a summary of Christian doctrine, and finally, "Practical Examples of the Faith." Reverend Hyung Kyu Park, the godfather of the South Korean democracy movement, Suju, South Korea and the author’s mother exhorter Han Seon-yi, ‘Online Adullam Community’ where the author regularly attends, And finally, he summarizes the turning point in his life, Da-seok Ryu Youngmo, in his own words. The author's theology is followed by a framework that provides a glimpse into the faith.
English translations and cartoon illustrations
The author translated it into English as well as Korean and listed it on Amazon together. The author said that he prepared an English translation because he realized that there might be other people in other countries who have the same problem as him. And in order to easily interpret the hard content, he said he drew the illustrations directly into cartoons using an online webtoon production platform.
<i>As I watched the coronavirus outbreak and the inability to hold face-to-face worship services, I thought it was another way for God to discipline the Korean church. After all, God's will is not in the Korean church, but outside of it, which the church has marginalized. Churches that are just trying to grow their numbers, churches that are just trying to "manage" their members like fish in a tank, churches that are just not that kind of church are going to fail. No, you're getting screwed Proportionately, I believe that God's will is racing toward its completion. - In body text</i>
