현대 한국교회 청소년의 기독교 신앙 자아정체성을 위한 기독교 교육적 책임

Abstract

Psychological and social developmental psychologist Erik H. Erikson divided a person's life cycle into eight stages and identified the fifth stage as adolescence, which is a period when self-identity is established and identity confusion can be experienced at the same time. This description may imply a psychological crisis, but some scholars recognize it as embodying a turning point for self-growth and maturity, rather than consider it only from a pessimistic and skeptical point of view. More specifically, the crisis can serve as a driving force in establishing one's identity in the midst of emotional confusion and conflict and designing the future self. Self-identity, one of the essential human conditions, works throughout one's life, according to the psychological developmental theory that human development continues over the whole life cycle. In particular, it is definitely necessary for adolescents to establish a solid self-identity regarding their presence in order to lead a better and healthier life in the future. It is also thought that measures for helping believers who have faced with changes in modern society to establish their identity based on their faith as Christians, which is differentiated from that of the secular world, and maintain it should be of greater importance and urgency than measures for non-believers. Adolescence is a period involving social and psychological changes along with physical growth. During this period, one's ego is constructed substantially, which makes it the most essential phase among the various stages of life. Erikson defined adolescence as the identity crisis that involves a struggle to recognize what one should become and the concept of life. From his perspective, adolescence is not just a stage of instability found in the transitional process to adulthood, but a period when self-identity is established. Education for modern youth has been tilted to adaptation to rapidly changing industrial and social conditions, rather than character building, thus severely degrading the essential value of education. Some of the consequences are proclivity for belittling human life and dignity in many adolescents and the loss of the sense of righteousness that humans should pursue. It is thus required that these problems be rectified and education be conducted to help restore the original human condition and the fundamental sense of righteousness that humans must have. To this end, it is necessary to recognize that Christian education has a heavy responsibility for the formation of faith-based self-identity in Christian adolescents. This study therefore focuses on discussing the establishment of Christian faith based self-identity in adolescents from a Christian educational perspective and urging today's Korean Churches to take responsibility for promoting Christian education and play a due role in providing such education in order to help establish a sound identity based on faith.