해체와 무의 도전 ― 과정신학적 응답의 시도

Abstract

Postmodernism and Buddhism are, it seems to me, two of the most intimidating movements against Christianity. The two movements have posed a great amount of challenge to Christian theology. I believe that unless Christian theology can respond to this challenge appropriately, it may be difficult for Christianity to be reinvigorated in this secularistic world, where many intellectuals have been attracted to those movements. The core message of postmodernism can be summarized in a term, i.e., “deconstruction.” Although postmodern movements vary, they are in common when they employ the term “deconstruct” in explaining what their main position is all about, reaching the conclusion that human subjectivity, history, and even God should be deconstructed. “Nothingness,” or “emptiness” can be regarded as a key concept representing Buddhist doctrines that are, more often than not, so complicated as to be hardly understandable to some Christians believers. I will make an effort to show how both the concept “deconstruction” posed by postmodernism and the concept “nothingness” have attracted many secular intellectuals' mind these days. My first thesis is that the Christian doctrine of death and immortality has been damaged by the emergence of “deconstruction” and “nothingness.” This is because the doctrines of death and immortality have been affirmed on the basis of the philosophical concepts, such as “identity” and “eternity.” However, such concepts like “identity” and “eternity” can no longer appeal to contemporary human beings who are brainwashed by “deconstruction” and “nothingness.” Therefore, I believe that without reinterpreting the meaning of identity and eternity, Christian theology may not be able to attract the contemporary intellectuals any more. My second thesis is that “deconstruction” and “nothingness” have resulted in introducing controversial discussions to Christian theology. One of the hottest controversial issues today is religious pluralism in which Christian uniqueness is said to be relativised necessarily. The final thesis is that since postmodernism and Buddhism, based on the doctrine of deconsturctionism and nothingness, have posed some challenges Christian understanding of teleology and metaphysics, Christian theologians should make an effort to revise the meaning of teleology and metaphysics in a new way so as to revitalize Christianity. I will propose that a process theology can be of great help in providing us with one of the best ways to do it.