The study aims at discussing on the significances of the Good Conducts in Heidelberg Catechism in relation to Lévinas Ethics of 'the others', and then suggesting the significances for the Korean Christianity. More detailed objectives and related cont...
The study aims at discussing on the significances of the Good Conducts in Heidelberg Catechism in relation to Lévinas Ethics of 'the others', and then suggesting the significances for the Korean Christianity. More detailed objectives and related contents are as followed.
First, the study looks into the significants of 'Good Conducts' in the Heidelberg Catechism. From here the historical background, characteristics, and structure in terms of the Heidelberg Catechism are described, and the concepts of the Good Conducts is mentioned as well. And relation to the Good Conducts, the meaning of gratitude, belief, holy spirit, Lord's prayer and the Ten Commandments in the Heidelberg Catechism are discussed. Lastly, the Good Conducts are discussed based on the socially poor and weak in the Heidelberg Catechism. Ursinus has mentioned that the Good Conducts comes out the true beliefs, follows God's Laws, and they are all about the glory of God. Therefore, the Good Conducts for the socially poor and weak should be what Christian is to obey God's command of serving the poor and weak.
Second, the study examines the Good Conducts in the Lévinas' ethic of 'the others'. From here the features, 'the others', and the concept of God in the Lévinas Ethics are mentioned. He asserts that the ethic should be giving up 'oneself' in the point of view 'the others'. The others has the face of the poor, weak, a widow, an orphan, and orders us, as our Lord. The accountability on the others implies 'the love of our neighbor' in the Bible. It expresses the love of suffering people.
Third, the Study discusses on the significants of the Good Conducts in the Heidelberg Catechism related to Lévinas' Ethic. What we believe should be done in our lives. “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven(Matthew 7:21).” This word would be deeply related to care the others in the Lévinas' ethic, and also it could be in the center of the Good Conducts in the Heidelberg Catechism. 'The others' in Lévinas' philosophy command on the Good Conducts, but in there, there should be assurance of God's existence, obey, and the beliefs of God.
Lastly, the study makes some suggestions for the Korean Christianity regarding the Good Conducts in the Heidelberg Catechism and the Lévinas' ethic. Korean society in the super individualism neglects the socially weak, and churches in the society passes over those individualism in silence. In the society and the church, the awareness of community would be buried under the capitalistic economy. In such a phase, necessity of Christianity Role should be strongly come to the fire, which could recover on the awareness of community in the society and the church.. So it should be necessary to the ethical conducts for the poor and weak, as a code of conduct for Korean Christianity. Therefore the Korean Christianity should look for new significants in Jesus' Commands, that you shall love your God and your neighbor as yourself.