In den meisten Religionen ist das Beten einer der wichtigsten Mittel, mit dem man die Gottheit erreichen kann. Wichtig ist es auch zu sehen, welche Rolle das Beten bei der griechischen Philosophie und bei dem Frühchristentum gespielt hat. Insbesondere wird das Gebetsverständnis vom Mittelplatoniker Maximos von Tyrios und vom Stoiker Seneca untersucht. Im Frühchristentum wird die Schrift des Origenes über das Gebet unter die Lupe genommen, um zu zeigen, wie sich Origenes mit der griechischen Philosophie auseinandersetzte und eine christliche Antwort darauf vorbereitete, ob das Beten überhaupt im religiösen Leben notwendig ist. Maximos von Tyrios schreibt in seiner Schrift dialexeij die Bedeutung des Betens in seiner Umwelt. Er behauptet, es sei sinnlos zu beten, weil man mit dem Beten nichts erreichen könne. Die ähnliche Behauptung stellt der Stoiker Seneca auch auf, dass man nicht zu beten braucht, weil man die Tugend selbst erlangen könne und als Mensch dem Fatum gehorchen müsse. Die beiden Philosophen können aber keinen menschlichen freien Willen in ihren Systemen gewähren. Genau an diesem Punkt bietet Origenes mit seiner christlichen Antwort die Lösung an, dass Gott den menschlichen freien Willen gewährt. So korrigiert Origenes die falsche Meinungen über das Gebet, dass man nicht zu beten braucht. Gottes Vorsehung bleibt aber auch erhalten, wenn Menschen nach ihrem eigenen Willen beten, wenn sie schwach sind. Das ist der Grund, warum man zu Gott beten muss. Nach Origenes ist das Beten nicht unsere Leistung, sondern der Geschenk Gottes, weil unser Heiland Christus uns beim Beten hilft.

In this article, I will press for some changes in the way we think about the role of women in early Christianity. Marcella(325∼410) played a much more creative role than often thought in shaping spirituality in the Roman setting during the mid-fourth century, the period of barbarian invasions. Marcella was a highborn lady from a line of consuls and prefects. She, as an aristocratic woman, was the first in Rome to accept the monastic vocation. Marcella created the Aventine Circle which provided the original impetus for the flowering of Roman female monasticism. She was an important teacher in the early church who was highly esteemed by Jerome. She was in the front lines in interacting with heretics and bringing them to a better understanding of Christian truth. At one point, when a dispute arose in Rome concerning the meaning of the Scriptures, Jerome asked Marcella to settle it. It is wrong to give Jerome the credit for inspiring or shaping Marcella’s spirituality and her Aventine Circle. It is also a mistaken notion that Marcella was at best a satellite or disciple of Jerome. By the time Jerome appeared in Rome in 382, the Aventine Circle had already assumed its basic pattern of monastic life, centering around intensive study of scripture, prayer, fasting, almsgiving and so on. Although he taught scriptures and encouraged their asceticism, he could not have shaped the Aventine Circle, which by this time had already been in existence thirty years or more. Moreover, Jerome commented that their scholarship on biblical study was far beyond normal. Jerome leaves ample evidence that he considered Marcella a biblical scholar. She was fluent in Greek as well as Latin and had an intense desire to master Hebrew. Jerome saw Marcella his equal as an interpreter of the Scripture. Looking in a new way at the evidence, I believe there are ample reasons for retelling the story of early Christianity in the West. As a founder of the Aventine Circle, as a role model of a monastic lifestyle for devout women of Roman aristocracy, and because of her highly intelligent scholarship on the Bible, Marcella was a major player in the development of Christian spirituality.

In dieser Studie geht es um Jakob Böhmes Gedanken im Werk 『Der Weg zu Christo』, das er zwischen 1622 und 1627 geschrieben hat. Dieses Werk besteht aus gesamt 9 Traktaten. Im Besonder konzentriet meine Untersuchung auf 4 Traktaten-“Von wahrer Buße”, “Vom wahrer Gelassenheit”, “Vom übersinnlichen Leben”, “Von göttlicher Beschaulichkeit”-, die 1622 erschienen geworden ist. Ihr Ziel ist es, Böhmes Gedanke synthetisch und theologisch zu verstehen. In den heutigen Studien herrschen zwei Forschungsrichtungen: einerseits historisch-theologisch, anderseits historischphilosophisch. Dabei steht seine gedankliche “Innerlichkeit” im Zentrum der geitigen Studie. Deshalb fehlt es daran, wie die Innewendigkeit im realen Leben praktisiert wird. So findet sich in der Forschung zu Böhmes Denken die theologisch-philosophische Spekulation, obwohl seine Gedanken teilweise praktisch sind. Meine Forschungsfrage ist es, wie die gedankliche Innerlichkeit zur Praktisierung im Leben verändert wird. Daraus ergibt sich: 1. Vom Bleiben des Sprechen zur tätigen Entscheidung. 2. Von der inneren Gelassenheit zur äußerlichen Praktisierung. 3. Vom Zurückkehren in den übersinnlichen Grund zur Realität. 4. Keine Verflucht der Welt, sondern Suchen nach dem Leben der gegenseitigen Bindung zwischen Irdischen und Himmelischen. Um Böhmes Theologie richtig zu verstehen, sollten diese Pünkte nicht übersehen werden. Für die Analse zu dieser Werk 『Der Weg zu Christo』gilt es, dass seine Gedanken sehr viel nicht philosophisiert werden dürfen, weil die theologischen Thesen hier im geistigen Zentrum stehen. Wer Böhmes Gedanke weiter aufforschen möchte, überprüft, welche Entwickelung der reformatischen Spritulität im Verhältnis Böhme zu Luther gemacht wird. Mit dieser Frage kann die Fortschritt zum Verständnis seines Geistes gemacht werden.

The vast writings on the Reformation and the Modern science have produced in terms of either-or. In other words, the relations between the Reformation and the Modern science have interpreted either in negative way or in positive way. The negative interpretations hold that the Reformation would have had little effect on modern scientific revolution. On the other hand, the positive interpretations argue that specific doctrines or attitudes affirmed by the Reformers and their followers contributed directly or indirectly to the growth of modern science. After brief discussion of each of these interpretations, this paper will claim that the correlationship of the Reformation and the Modern science would be explained more clearly when interpretations of their relation are explored in terms of Calvin’s principle of accommodation. For Calvin, accommodation is related to his understanding of God. According to Calvin, God reduces or adjusts to human capacities in order to reveal the infinite mysteries of his being. Because his mysteries are beyond the powers of human being to grasp. The paper will try to reveal the importance of Calvin’s accommodation theory through his understanding of nature. For Calvin, the world of nature represents traces of God’s handiwork. The world is a “mirror”, in which God may be viewed. Therefore, Calvin was intensely interested in exploring of nature. The attitude of Calvin toward nature enabled science to able to penetrate more deeply into the secrets of divine wisdom. Consequently, the paper shows that complexities of relation between the Reformation and the rise of modern science appears to be many-sided. In addition, this paper demonstrates that it is noteworthy to note the relations of religion and science in the Reformation era as an important instance historically.

This paper aims to explore John Wesley’s and early Methodist’s ecumenical spirit and practice at the time when we need more unity and cooperation of the Korean Protestant Churches hosting the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, 2013. The writer examines his ecumenical spirit and practice in his Journal and Diaries, Letters, and Sermons etc. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was a man of ecumenical spirit and endeavored to take it into practice. In principle, he was a son of Church of England. However, he accepted other christian traditions, unless they didn’t hurt the essentials of christianity. His ultimate goal is to be sanctified and become a perfect Christian, not to be a member of a particular church or denomination. His ecumenical spirit drew on his characteristic stress on the true Christian’s interior life of holiness. His ecumenical central message is summed up as follows in the sermon, “Catholic Spirit”: “So far as in conscience you can (retaining still your own opinions and your own manner of worshipping God), join with me in the work of God, and let us go on hand in hand.” He insisted that “orthodoxy, or right opinions, is, at best, but a very slender part of religion, if it can be allowed to be any part of it at all”, but he also wrote that “A catholic spirit is not a speculative latitudinarianism. It is not an indifference to all opinion: this is the spawn of hell, not the offspring of heaven.” This study also demonstrates how difficult it was for John Wesley and early Methodist to realize their ecumenical spirit in the Methodist Movement which underwent the conflict and division between Wesleyan Methodist and Calvinistic Methodist espoused by George Whitefield. Despite their real differences, John Wesley emphasizes that Christians have a great deal in common and that they must stress and strengthen these existing bonds of unity. He preaches and practises in the 18th century what Christians in the twentieth have recently discovered and formulated. Taking it into consideration, he can be estimated as one of forerunners of modern ecumenical movement.

The relationship between mission and imperialism has been one of the central themes which recur throughout missiology, in particular, mission history. In the case of the Korean Church, this theme also has particular significance for church history in that it was related to the origin of the Korean Church, especially the Korean Protestant Church. This study attempts to examine this theme, with special reference to the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, 1910. It is because, first, the Korean Church was established in the context of imperialism; second, in Korea did arise an irregular case of the relationship between mission and imperialism, namely, western mission versus non-western imperialism rathallthan normal one, namely, western mission versus western imperialism; and third, the abovementioned Edinburgh Conference was held at the peak period of imperialism, from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. Since the last year was the centennial of the Edinburgh Conference, the Conference was almost thoroughly investigated. In this context, it may also be well worth exploring the Conference from the perspective of the relationship between mission and imperialism. In particular, this study tries to grasp the reality of the Korean Church at the period under consideration, through unearthing archival material, that is, the draft reports to the Commissions of the Edinburgh Conference, which have rarely been utilized in the hitherto studies. In conclusion, this study makes it clear that the western mission, including the western mission working in the non-western imperial context, in the pre-World War Ⅱ period was largely under the influence of the ideology of imperialism, although mission could not totally identify with imperialism. It is against this backdrop that arises a question of whether the end of imperialism means the end of mission. This is why the post-colonial period exacts a new paradigm of mission.

On the occasion of 21st century, christian spiritualism has a big challenge from secular world. Even though the 20th century’s christian theology emphasized the theology of hope, which were promoted by Moltmann and Pannenberg, it seems that there is still no hope in the contemporary christianity. Christianity don’t have any solution of the contemporary issues, such as environmental destruction, economic polarization, world conflict, cultural divergence, destruction of social security, even moral hazard. It is required for christianity to be a religion of hope again in these situations. One of the responses of this requirement is the necessity of an alternative christian movement, the new monasticism is one of the movement. The new monasticism was organized in 2004 by some certain christian communities, such as the Simple Way, Rutba House, Camden Community, the Psalters, etc. They have agreed with the “12 Marks of New Monasticism” in order to make an alternative christian community of communities. Instead of the formal evangelicalism, they would like to pursue the counter cultural christian life and new spirituality. Because of the ethos, the new monasticism has been paid attention to the church in terms of christian spirituality. First, it is oriented communitarianism to overcome the problem of the individualism which prevails in modern society. Second, the new monasticism is oriented simple life and sharing their possessions in order to overcome the problem of capitalism. Third, it seeks to realize the ethical praxis with emphasizing social justice and positive community involvement in order to solve the issues of modern society. Fourth, the new monasticism seeks to expand the Kingdom of God through practicing the counter-culturalism, the non-imperialism, and nonviolent pacifism. Fifth, it conducts the new christian movement with making a community of communities which has accepted the interdenominational diversity. Even though there are some significances in the new monasticism, we can discuss some limitations of it too. Firstly, the new monasticism cannot perfectly be a alternative christian movement, since it has some radical aspects to solve the contemporary issues. Secondly, the new monasticism has a certain theological limitation, because it only emphasizes the practical elements of faith rather than all biblical dogma. Thirdly, this movement cannot realize the culture command of God in this world because it infers to the counter-culture, such as non-individualism and non-consumerism, to overcome the problem of contemporary capitalism. And lastly, the new monasticism has the limitation which is related to the possibility of development, because it has some weak points, such as absence of the systematic mission strategy, flexible solidarity between the communities, inclusive interdenominational mind. It’s very clear that the new monasticism has some limitations, Nevertheless, it proposes to the contemporary christian society an important solution of the issue of the christian spirituality. Through the emergence of the movement we are able to think of the christian spirituality as well. Holistic spirituality should be the most important element which we have to pursue to recover the religious authority nowadays. The new monasticism is one of the movement which we have to regard as an alternative christian spirituality.

This study is to research the Formation and Activities of Pro-Rhee’ Christian Forces under the rule of Japanese imperialism. Relationships between Rhee and Korean Christian forces were formed by Independence Association, his conversion in prison, and his activities of YMCA in the early 1910s. Most of the Pro-Rhee Korean Christian forces were Korean Christian of Seoul, Gyeonggi-Do, and ChungChong-Do birth who were active mostly in Christian groups including Christian Association and YMCA in the 1910s. Rhee suggested Diplomatic Independence Principle and Ability Cultivation Principle as strategies of the independence movement. Korean Christian forces connected to Rhee agreed to Rhee’s strategies. They did not attract support for Korea’s independence from the international society but also developed movements of ability cultivation such as Private University Establishment Campaign and Rural Enlightenment Movement. Directly after the March 1 Movement, Korean Christian forces delivered Korea’s interim government’s document declared in Korea to Syng-man Rhee, who was out of Korea. After that time, this contributed greatly to Rhee’s becoming the supreme leader of dependence movement in and outside Korea. Korean Christian forces banded together with Rhee outside Korea and formed Heung-eop Club as an organization which agreed to Comrade Association abroad and adopted as important activities raising funds of independence movement and constructing economical networks in and outside Korea. Some members of Heung-eop Club did not participate in Shin-gan Association Movement but also played a key role in YMCA’s Rural Enlightenment Movement. However, Syng-man Rhee’s overseas position became weakened due to the bankruptcy of Dongji-Shiksan Company and conflicts related to the subscription of fund. In conclusion, Rhee’s relationships with Korean Christian forces were rapidly estranged in Korea’s circumstances (e.g. Sang-Jae Lee’s death, the conflict of Chi-Ho Yoon and Heung-Woo Shin in Heung-eop Club, the failure of establishing Industrial Department, the depression of YMCA’s Rural Enlightenment Campaign, etc.) after the mid-1930s.

The constitution of the Republic of Korea clearly states the separation of church and state. While pure religious action should be separated from politics, Koreans with religion have some duties and rights based on the fact that religious people also are members of the Korean nation and society. This article aims to describe an aspect of the relationship between politics and religions with a special attention to Christianity. First of all, Christianity of Catholic and Protestant played a great role in the building of the Republic of Korea. After the World War Ⅱ, other religions in Korea did not support liberal democracy. Also they had a very ambiguous attitude toward democracy. Some of them accepted even communism. In the ideological chaos, Christianity clearly counted as one of the important anticommunistic groups. At this point, Christianity should be considered as one of great contributors to the nation buildings of the South Korea. This close relationship of Christianity and anticommunism has been maintained from the World War Ⅱ to the present day. However, several presidents of Korea became dictators in the name of anticommunism so that many liberal Christians have protested against authoritarian government as well as anticommunism which became a hated word in Korean liberal society. Many struggles between governments and liberal Christians had been appeared in other areas such as industrial problems, rural society, as well as environment. Recently, many Buddhists has been strongly involved in such agendas of liberal Christianity. During transition from industrialization to democratization in South Korea, this nation has tried to find out a national identity and the Korean government have supported traditional religions such as Buddhism under the title of support of traditional and national culture. This support from government has been appeared in the area of culture, tourism and education. At this point, traditional and national religions of the South Korea have received a lot of financial aid from government.

Government’s public policy on the christian religious school is enforced in the direction of securement of the educational publicness than the private school’s independence. Therefore the identity and independence of the christian religious schools is very dangerous. The private school law which was revised in 2007 pursues the publicity. democratization, and transparency of the private schools through such as the open trustee system and external auditor. The christian private schools are arguing that this policy is violating the nature of a private body corporate of the school corporate body and it is insisting the government’s function of supervision over the private school but don’t have the support policy for the healthy development of it. The christian private school is asking the re-revision of the private school act and the legislation of the Private School Support Act. The christian private middle schools are considerably restricted at the right to select the students under the system of standardization. Accordingly they are confronting the strong danger in the direction to realize the idea of building school which educates the students the christian religion. So in the future at the christian religious schools, the before-appliance and after-election which guarantees the religious choice, not the choice by the examination marks should be extended. As a result the freedom to educate the christian faith should be secured. Also the better solution is to transform the christian private school into the autonomous private school. It will be freed from the control of the government and can do the religious education on the ground of the christian world view. The government asks the christian private schools that the Bible class must be operated in the direction of the religious theology as the liberal arts and the chapel have to be managed in the extra-curriculum and secure the autonomous participation of the students. In this case, the Bible class and Chapel will be seldom managed from the point of the religious education. In order to solve these problems, the christian private schools should recover the right to elect the student and should deeply study the method to fill the religious needs of the students

This article is a hermeneutical evaluation of the life, the ministry and the theology of Rev. Sang-Bok Kim, for the purpose of inspiring and teaching the next generation. First and foremost, prior to evaluating his ministry and his theology one must first observe his life to understand the depth of his spirituality and the formation of his values and beliefs. We will look at his life through three different stages. First, his life in Korea (1939.1.11∼1965.8): north (Pyongyang) and south (Pusan and Seoul); second, his life in America (1965.8∼1990.5): studying abroad, teaching and ministry; and lastly, his life again in Korea (1990.6∼2011.1): his life based on his ministry at Hallelujah Church. Understanding his life through these three different stages will provide us insight with regard to the direction of his ministry and its characteristics. Furthermore, his ministry can be divided into teaching ministry and pastoral ministry. Within his pastoral ministry we will be able to see him as a ‘pastor-teacher’ (Eph. 4:11) through the vision, the method and the characteristics of his ministry. Lastly, his theology is understood as well as criticized generally on his view of Bible (‘plenary verbal inspiration’) and in particular his view of pneumatology and eschatology and ecclesiology and woman ordination, and WCC.