K172 Mid Term
S1monD
lecture8-2.pptx2. Buddhist Idol Worship
Icons (Images)
OT: no images
NT: based on the incarnation of Jesus Christ
Eastern Orthodox: panels → iconoclasm (8th c) → icons
Western RC: icons and statues
Islam : no faces (iconoclasm)
Protestantism: Lutheranism—icons and status acceptable
Calvinism/Puritans—no icons, but pictures of Jesus acceptable
Idols: Buddhist/Daoist/shamanist--condemned
II. Points of Conflict
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3. “Polygamy Question”
Context: half of the population were children of concubines in 19th c Korea
What was controversial for the church?
Total prohibition vs Partial Tolerance
Methodists
PY Presbyterians Seoul Presbyterians
W. Baird’s Theses D. Gifford’s Study
Underwood & Moffett many senior missionaries in China
II. Points of Conflict
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Missionaries in China
II. Points of Conflict
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“Rev. John Ross (United Presbyterian Church of Scotland), Moukden:—
A few years ago the United Mission in Manchuria had the matter before them for final settlement. It was unanimously agreed that on account of the conditions of family life in China a man proved to be otherwise conducting himself as a believer should, could be baptized, tho he had a plurality of wives, but that he be not eligible for any office in the church; and that one of several wives be similarly admitted into the church. But that any member taking a second wife while his first was living would at once be put out of the church. This law has had to be enforced in the cases of three useful men who became inveigled into this forbidden relationship. We always consult our senior Christians in regard to every measure connected with church life, and the native eldership in the Presbytery were cordially at one with the Europeans there.”
—Daniel L. Gifford, “Polygamous Applicants,” 1897; Daniel L. Gifford, “Polygamous Applicants—II,” Missionary Review of the World (March 1897); 194.
Gifford’s questionnaire
II. Points of Conflict
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Sŏ Sang-nyun’s case
1882 – baptized by John Ross, sent to Korea
1884 – began Sorae Church
1887 – evangelist/colporteur by Underwood
1888 – trained at the theological class
1890 – “helper”
1897 – Council fired him due to his “polygamy”
1898 – appointed him “helper” again
1907—Sŭngdong Church elected him “elder”
1907 – Council denied his ordination as elder
remained as a “deacon”
II. Points of Conflict
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4. Geomancy (Fengshui)
A. House Site
Missionary Property
Church Site
B. Tomb Site
Moving the bones
Suites at the local government court
= non-interference policy
* Missionary Support for American Mining Business
II. Points of Conflict
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Moving Ancestor’s Bones from the Old Tomb to a New
advised by a geomancy practitioner for the prosperity of the descendants
II. Points of Conflict
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