The reason why we research the history of catechesis is that because the basis of all studies is to know the history of that field. And if we know how the wisdom and inheritance of the pastoral ministry of catechesis transmitted from the past is influ...
The reason why we research the history of catechesis is that because the basis of all studies is to know the history of that field. And if we know how the wisdom and inheritance of the pastoral ministry of catechesis transmitted from the past is influenced on our present situation,then we can make an alternative plan to the direction of the pastoral ministry of catechesis forward. The more important reason is that if we have the arrangement and understanding of history of catechesis,we can make theoretical foundations of the pastoral ministry of catechesis uprightly and also make a practical plan for it more suitable and actual.
This thesis is a study of the catechism field of several researches sphere in history of catechesis of Korean Catholic Church. The reason of studying the catechism field is that I want to know what catechism is written,translated and read about. And I want to arrange catechism systematically and chronologically through the whole history of Korean Catholic Church. So I like to figure out the causes of "Faith is one thing,Life is the other" in the catechism which is one essential element of catechesis. The problem of "Faith is one thing,Life is the other" is raising our head serious problem. We must ask ourselves over the reason for being christian in korean society today. The more important reason is that through studying the changes of catechism in Korean Catholic Church,we can expect to find a certain clue in publishing a new Korean Catechism.
The contents of this thesis are following. First,it is the study on the changes of catechism in progress in Korean Catholic Church. This part divides the history of Korean Catholic Church in five periods in point of view of catechism. The periods are divided by five epoch-making events which are the turning points. The epoch-making events are; first,the transmission of Chonjushilui(in the beginning of 17c.), second,the instituting of Chosun Vicar Apostolic Territory(1831),third,the Whole Chosun Regional Council(1931), fourth, the Settlement of Hierarchy in Korean Catholic Church(1962) and fifth, the Bicentennial Pastoral Conference(1984).
This first part arranges the catechisms in chronological order of publishment and describes on a level with bibliographical explanation. And also it quotes the supporting contents from one hundred and twenty catechisms which I have thoroughly researched to set up the principle and basis for publishing a new Korean Catechism.
After I study on the changes of catechism in progress in Korean Catholic Church,I add the evaluation of catechisms in dimension of catechetics to make clear the meaning of catechisms' value in the history of catechesis in Korean Catholic Church. It points out that most of catechisms in Korean Catholic Church are translated catechisms and translated & editted catechisms on the ground of dual realism of western church. This dualism is the basic cause of "Faith is one thing, Life is the other" which is the serious problem Korean Catholic Church is confronted with. It also analyzies that these catechisms give us the problem of "Theology is one thing, Reality is the other".
Finally I selected three catechisms which are Songgyoyoji, Chugyoyoji and Haebanghashinun Hanunim(Liberating God). These catechisms are models for a new Korean Catechism. Songgyoyoji is yielded from deep contemplation about catholic by korean people with spiritual history of korean culture based on korean's feeling, tendency and intuition. Chugyoyoji is written plainly in Hangul according to a korean people's way of thinking,customs, legend, knowledge of Confucianism and author's own life experience. Haebanghashinun Hanunim is for a small community and overcomes the abstract, dual,ideological words and logic. It is for the farmers class using the different methodology compared with the most of other catechisms. The method starts from the specific group's request, bottleneck, circumstances and approaches the revealed truth. It gathers farmers naturally together to learn and convince.
Second,they are the researches required for publishing a new Korean Catechism. This part introducts the results of researches in the history of Korean Catholic Church. They are; first, Chonjugasa applied teaching material for catechesis, second, kyunghyangjabji's editorial requesting for revision of the Chorljugyoyorimundap, third,researches of dissertation for the application of Catholicgyoriso, fourth,an opinion about the unity of catechisms,fifth, proposal articles from the Bicentennial Pastoral Conference Bill 「CATECHESIS」 presented, sixth, suggested articles from the "Enculturation of Catechesis" of Enculturation Researches Announcement Conference stated, seventh, alternatives from the 「The problem of catechumen catechism」presented and eighth,a work of korean translation of Catèchisme de L'Eglise Catholique.
The main purpose of this thesis is to publish a new Korean Catechism which will overcome the dualism. This problem of "Faith is one thing,Life is the other" is caused by wrong methodology of catechesis and a lack of social teaching in church. However the problem is fundamentally caused by translated and translated & editted catechisms. The contents of doctrines of these catechisms are of dual realism. It divides in two; God and human, spirit and flesh, Kingdom to come and this world, religious world and general society like the natural scientific schema which generally divides subject from object. These catechisms of western church is unfamiliar to our korean people.
The other reason why a new Korean Catechism is needed is that Korean Catholic Church is urged to publish the "National Catechism" referring to the Catèchisme de L'Eglise Catholique which is published according to the theology of Vatican Council II. On top of that,Korean Episcopal Conference agreed to publish the "Korean Standard Catechism" but stopped waiting for the Catèchisme de L'Eglise Catholique. Under this circumstances,publishing a new Korean Catechism,we can satisfy all in one.
The most important reason why a new Korean Catechism to be made is to search the new theory of catechesis suited Korean Catholic Church and to have an opportunity of establishing Korean Theology.
Although it sounds unrealistic to publish a new Korean Catechism since catechism is built on theology and we have not established Korean Theology yet. Nevertheless, insisting on publishing a new Korean Catechism,we may come up to actualize Korean Theology in our very situation.
As a conclusion,I suggest the five following proposals for a new Korean Catechism. The proposals are following.
1. It is desirable to form the "Korean Catechism Compilation Committee" under the control of the Episcopal Conference's Catechetical Committee.
2. All church members must have an interest in catechism. Especially church leaders must have the responsibility and duty.
3. Specialist must be brought up for a new Korean Catechism. Church authorities must have a pastoral care in training and employment of lay specialist.
4. The emphasis must be on the study of Enculturation Work for Korean Theology.
5. It must include the "Tongilgyoriso" (Unification Catechism) for the christian community in North Korea.
The last part is a supplement which is a chronological table of history of catechesis in Korean Catholic Church. It is arranged with a hope that "The History of Catechesis in Korean Catholic Church" to be written as soon as possible and to get the answer of how pastoral ministry of catechesis in our past have accomplished.