Skip to main content
Log in

A Korean Feminist Perspective on God Representation

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article investigates the ways in which the patriarchal God image when combined with Confucianism in Korean culture can negatively affect Korean Christian women in their concept of identity and self-worth. In doing so, a few salient constructs of Confucianism that are closely related to the role of Korean women are examined. Engaging in and dialoging with the works of Sigmund Freud and Ana-Maria Rizzuto in their treatments of God representation along with some key research findings in that area, the nature and the various dynamics of God representation are discussed. Finally some practical suggestions are given in dealing with the patriarchal image of God in relation to the lived experiences of Korean Christian women in Korean context.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Capps, D. (Ed.) (2001). Freud and Freudians on religion. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, H. K. (1989). Han-pu-ri: Doing theology from Korean women's perspective. In V. Fabella & S. A. Lee Park (Eds.), We dare to dream: Doing theology as Asian women. Hong Kong: Asian Women's Resource Center for Culture and Theology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, A. M. (2001). Introducing feminist theology. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, M. (1973). Beyond God the Father. Boston: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, M. (1975). The church and the second sex. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickie, J. R., Eshleman, A. K., Merasco, D. M., Shepard, A., Wilt, M. V., & Johnson, M. (1997). Parent-child relationships and children's images of God. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 36(1), 25–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiorenza, E. S. (1994). Jesus: Miriam's child, Sophia's prophet. New York: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1933). New introductory lectures on psycho-analysis. In W. J. H. Sprott. (Ed. & Trans.), New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1950). Totem and taboo. In J. Strachey. (Ed. & Trans.), New York: W. W. Norton & Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1964). Leonard da Vinci and a memory of his childhood. In J. Strachey (Ed. & Trans.), New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, J. (1991). Oedipus and beyond: A clinical theory. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, E. A. (1992). She who is. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, S. (2000). Feminist theology and Christian theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, N. (1998). Feminism and Christianity. Seoul, Korea: The Christian Literary Society of Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J., & Cynn, V. (1991). Issues in counseling 1.5 generation Korean Americans. In C. Lee & B. Richardson (Eds.), Multicultural issues in counseling: New approaches to diversity (pp. 127–140). Alexandria, VA: American Association for Counseling and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, O. C. (1994). In search for our foremothers’ spirituality. Seoul, Korea: Asian Women's Resource Centre for Culture and Theology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, A. S. (1993). The wounded heart of God. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, S. L. (2000). Speaking about God. In P. Kowk (Ed.), Introducing Asian feminist theology. (pp. 65–78). Cleveland, Ohio: The Pilgrim Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizzuto, A. (1979). The birth of the living God: A psychoanalytic study. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roof, C. W., & Roof, J. L. (1984). Review of the polls: Images of God among Americans. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 23, 201–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruether, R. R. (1981). To change the world: Christology and cultural criticism. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruether, R. R. (1983). Sexism and god-talk: Toward a feminist theology. Boston: Beacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneiders, S. (1986). Women and the word: The gender of God in the New Testament and the spirituality of women. New York: Paulist Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vergote, A. (1969). Concept of God and parental images. Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion, 8, 79–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vergote, A., & Tamayo, A. (1981). The parental figures and representations of God: A psychological and cross-cultural study. The Hague, Netherlands: Mouton Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A. (1982). The color purple. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simone Sunghae Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, S.S. A Korean Feminist Perspective on God Representation. Pastoral Psychol 55, 35–45 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-006-0030-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-006-0030-5

Keywords

Navigation