The purpose of this dissertation is to review and analyze a public theology
model suitable for Korean churches that desperately require public
participation and restoration of publicness. In particular, focusing on the
two-kingdom theory actively disc...
The purpose of this dissertation is to review and analyze a public theology
model suitable for Korean churches that desperately require public
participation and restoration of publicness. In particular, focusing on the
two-kingdom theory actively discussed in the discourse of Reformed public
theology, it examines the historical context and modern reinterpretation to
evaluate whether it is a public theology model suitable for Korean churches
in a special socio-political situation, and makes the following arguments.
First, the current discourse of publicness in the Korean church has not
been in full swing, but as the role and responsibility of religion emerges in
the public sphere, public theology is gradually increasing its importance in
the theory and practice of the Korean church. Public theology can be
broadly classified into ‘public theology as universality’ and ‘public theology
as being church,’ and the two perspectives should be considered in a
complementary relationship rather than rejecting and opposing each other.
Public theology should be a discipline that urges the Korean church to
maintain the essence of ecclesiastical nature and at the same time go out
into a diversified world and take on social, cultural and political
responsibilities.
Second, from Augustine’s two cities theory, the two swords theory in
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the Middle Ages and the two-kingdoms theory in the era of Reformation
show the difficult history of confrontation and conflict, cooperation and
harmony between the church and the state. The two kingdoms theory was
sought to re-establish the relationship between the church and the state,
which was confused during the Reformation. For this reason, the theory of
two kingdoms deserves a review as a public theological model for the
Korean church in the special circumstances of division and confrontation
between South and North Korea, and the constitutional principle of
separation of politics and religion. In particular, Geneva’s Reformer Calvin’s
theory of two kingdoms was intended to achieve social transformation
through church reformation, while separating church and state.
Third, in the early days of modern Korean history, Christianity fulfilled
its responsibility and role as a public and social religion. However, after
liberation, ideological confrontation in the Korean society became
intensified, and authoritarian, undemocratic governments were established,
the Korean church has been hiding behind the mask of ‘segregation of
politics and religion’, and has actually benefited from ‘the fusion of politics
and religion.’ Behind the rapid quantitative growth of the Korean Protestant
Church lies a shameful history in which the church has silenced or
justified unjust and distorted political ideologies. The complex socio-cultural
and political situation faced by the Korean church is similar in many ways
to Calvin’s Geneva Reformation, and for that reason, Calvin’s political
theology model, ‘revised two kingdoms theory’ is the most appropriate
public theological model for Korean churches.
The results and contribution of this study are as follows. First, the
crisis of the Korean churches is found in the loss of publicness and retreat
from public responsibility, and the solution was sought. Second, as a
suitable model for overcoming the crisis of the Korean church, the theory
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of two kingdoms, a political theological model that extends from Augustine
to Luther to Calvin was designated and analyzed. Third, the discourse and
practice of public theology overcoming the privatization of the Korean
churches were presented not as a choice of conservative churches but as
a constituent element of the church.