The indigenization of Christianity in Korea: North American missionaries' attitudes towards Korean religions, 1884--1910

This study examines the first encounter between Western Christianity and Korean religions at the turn of the twentieth century. Its central thesis is that North American missionaries gradually adapted Christianity to Korean culture and religions over the period of one generation. Special attention is given to the missionaries' theology of non-Christian religions and to their mission methods. They drew upon evangelical mission methods and literature used in China, and "fulfillment theory" that appreciated the points of contact between East Asian religions and Christianity. Over time, the missionaries dropped their initial framework of rejecting all Korean tradition as "heathenism." Western Christianity was grafted on to the stems of Korean religions, and a new Korean Christianity flourished in season. The synthesis of Anglo-American-Sino Christianity with Korean spirituality contributed to the astonishing rise of Protestantism in Korea.; The study revises the image of Protestant missionaries from that of fundamentalists and cultural imperialists to that of harbingers of Korean theology. The rehabilitation of their evangelical and indigenizing perspective provides contemporary Korean churches with a sense of historical continuity and a historical framework from which to engage in dialogue with non-Christian religions. The dissertation presents a specific case study of cross-cultural theological development by mainline American missionaries during the period of high imperialism. It challenges the generally accepted interpretation of the role of the Protestant missionaries in that period, and mitigates the charges of cultural imperialism, white supremacy, and religious triumphalism often laid at their feet.; The dissertation addresses three issues: North American evangelicalism and mission movements introduced into Korea; Chinese evangelical mission theology, method, and literature transferred to Korea; and Protestant missionaries' attitudes toward Korean religions. The study argues that Protestant missionaries moved beyond proselytism in their approach to Koreans. They respected Korean culture and religions as part of the history of salvation and loved the people with a prophetic spirit. They touched the soul of the Korean people, who linked the missionaries' contributions to movements for a new church and a new nation.