Punk Christianity in Korea
Courtesy of Dickson PhuaBy David A. TizzardChristianity is punk. It can be a progressive force in Korea capable of being the catalyst for vast social change and challenging the existing social order. It is capable of flouting convention and providing new vistas. At least, it used to be. An idea that fascinates me is how ideologies with very real effects on people's day-to-day lives can act as either forces of change or tools of oppression, according to the environment in which they manifest. Here in South Korea, Confucianism and Christianity (admittedly very broad terms which don't always accurately convey the various denominations and approaches found under the singular umbrella) both arrived as anti-establishment forces. With the passage of time, they've become negatively associated by many with the status quo, as well as of holding the country and people back from achieving modernity. Let's address Confucianism's progressive arrival first. The Silla Dynasty is sometimes said to have been a time of great gender equality, giving rise to three Korean queens as well as the provocative
