허먼 멜빌의 필경사 바틀비: 월가의 이야기 에 대한 종교적 관점에서의 연구는 종교・윤리적 단계를 넘어서 종교적 영성의 차원으로까지 연결되어야 한다. 많은 평자들이 바틀비 를 비관적으로 해석하였던 것과는 달리, 탈근대주의자들은 작품 속에 내재한 새로운 “가능성”과 “잠재성”에 주목하였다. 탈근대 주의자들의 낙관적 해석은 기본적으로 종교성의 모티프를 바탕으로 이루어지고 있다. 그러나 그들의 해석은 작품 속에 있는 종교성의 깊은 의미를 간과하고 있는 측면이 있다. 발터 벤야민이 자본주의를 일종의 극단적 제의종교로 간주하고 있음을 고려해볼 때에, 바틀비 에 나타난 근대 자본주의사회에서의 종교성은 더욱 중요한 의미를 갖는다. 멜빌은 자본주의라는 일종의 거짓 종교 사회에서 인간이 처한 절박한 삶의 조건과 그것의 극복 가능성을 탐구하고 있다. 그런 의미에서 바틀비 에 나타난 ‘안식’ 혹은 ‘쉼’에 대한 가치 인식은 매우 중요하다. 그러나 종교적 영성이 제거된 ‘안식’이나 ‘쉼’ 자체는 근대 자본주의사회에서 인간구원에 대한 궁극적인 답이 될 수가 없다. 왜냐하면, 진정한 안식은 인간이 크로노스가 아닌 카이로스의 시간에 들어감으로써 신과 소통할 뿐만 아니라 거룩함을 경험하는 종교적 영성의 시간을 의미하기 때문이다.

In the Harry Potter Series, the magical power wizards and witches pursue avails its potential for the everlasting dream of eternal life as we used to see in religion. The dream comes true where magic makes it real as wizards desire to. Voldemort, Dumbledore, and Harry are described once as such. Voldemort tries to use magic to live eternally with the legendary philosopher’s stone as we have long known in alchemy, including ‘seven horcruxes’ into which Voldemort stores part of his soul to incarnate whenever he wants to. Dumbledore has the same dream with the three ‘deathly hallows’ he once possesses on his own; he finally changes his mind after he observes the death of his mother and sister. A prophecy reveals Harry as the Chosen One who defeats Voldemort, freeing the world from prevailing evil power; he rises after he willingly dies at the end of the story, just as Jesus Christ did.Religious significance in magic and the occult, including alchemy, astrology, clairvoyance, numerology, is seen in that Harry Potter puts together a vision of Christianity in the world of magic. In the story, magical power makes the vision possible on material basis, seemingly in religious significance, freeing body and spirit by sublime love in family, friends, and then people in the modern society. In the story, courage, sacrifice, forgiveness, love, friendship, fellowship, and freedom in body and spirit appear to be Christian virtues even in terms of the magical power Harry uses throughout the whole story in which evils are finally defeated and goods are raised.

This paper is intended to explore three models of Islam mission from a perspective of religious studies. Instead of traditional overemphasis on sudden conversion, these new models seek for social transformation. among Muslims. Due to the prejudice and misconception of Islam, we often fail to understand Muslims from their points of view. The comparative studies of the Bible and Qur'an and the field research and interview of Mosque and Muslim communities help us to understand Islam sympathetically. Traditional studies of Christian-Muslim relations pay more attention to similarities between Islam and Christianity than differences. In order to enhance openness to Islam, partners in dialogue should be honest to their own faiths. Sharing faith with partners will lead to the mission of dialogue. This dialogue is not a tool for evangelism but the mission itself. World Council of Churches and Roman Catholics have particular guidelines for Islam mission. In conclusion, mission studies includes religious studies. Various methods of religious studies will strengthen Islam mission and its strategies in different areas.