우머니스트 신학과 앨리스 워커의 종교 및 공동체 의식: 『자줏빛』과 『나의 동반자의 신전』

Abstract

Black Theology as a part of liberation movements remained focused on the concerns of racist oppression, but they ignored the various forms of oppression within the Black community. Therefore, womanist theology emerged as a result of Black women developing consciousness of their multidimensional oppression and unique experience connected to being black and female in America. Womanist theologians adopted Alice Walker’s term and definition of “womanist” in her book entitled In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens and used the term to describe themselves. In her writings, Alice Walker tried to understand Black women’s lives and religion through their experience and history. Walker insisted on tracing African roots to nurture African American’s self-esteem and cultural pride, and emphasized the importance of community bonds. Furthermore, she extended the concept of community including all the people on the earth; consequently, she considered all people’s wholeness in whatever culture they live in. Womanist theologians who fell under Alice Walker’s influence regarded Black women’s culture and history as their efforts to survive. Womanist theologians recognized Black women’s experience of struggle against their oppression and promoted new theology based on Black women’s unique religious experience. They basically searched for Black women’s wholeness but also sought to eliminate anything that prevented Black people from being whole and free. Finally womanist theologians challenged various alienating structures of oppression and pursued a world where all the people can live in relationships of mutuality. Thus, this article analyzes Walker’s religion and her community spirit in The Color Purple and The Temple of My Familiar along with womanist theology.