IMMERSION INTO THE REIGN OF GOD

This book employs historical and theological approaches to liturgical texts and contexts, which deal with the initiation process of the marginalized in Asia. In the first half of the book, the case study of the early period of Protestant history in Korea shows that becoming a Christian through the rites of Christian initiation often meant becoming civilized and Americanized. In this period, Christ was presented as the best of American culture, and the United States was presented as an earthly model of God s Kingdom. In the second half of the study, the theological construction of the initiation process of the marginalized in Asia is explored. This book especially engages in a dialogue with Asian theological perspectives on the problems and promises of Asian Christianity in relation to justice issues and inculturation, which are inseparably connected to one another, and become essential components of the initiation process.

Autorentext

Hyuk Seonwoo is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, serving as pastor of Zion Korean United Methodist Church in Warwick, Rhode Island. He earned Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from the Graduate Division of Religion at Drew University.