In search of a holistic music ministry in the South Korean context : a liturgical investigation
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research proposes a holistic reciprocity between the work of the Spirit, human activities and the role of music and the dynamic interconnectedness between liturgy, theology, music and Christian lives in the South Korean music ministries. Although studies on the roles of the Spirit, of human beings and of music in the music ministry have been conducted, little attention has been given to reciprocity among these three elements. Thus, this research was begun by examining the holistic relationship of the Spirit, human beings and music in the Korean music ministry. In order to do this, this study, as point of departure, undertook a survey analysis of some problematic phenomena in the South Korean music ministry that result from non-reciprocity between the pneumatological, anthropological, and musicological dimensions. From the survey analysis, it became clear that non-reciprocity in the work of the Spirit, human activities and the role of music in the Korean music ministry occurred due to a combination of some Western ideas that were brought into the Korean church with the modernisation of South Korea (i.e. the Enlightenment, deism, consumerism, mere conservationism, occasionalism, and soul-body dualism) and the particular Korean context (i.e. Mu-Kyo [Korean shamanism]). Among ideas applied to understand the problematic phenomena, were Walton’s notion of ‘make-believe’, Marx’s notion of ‘commodity fetishism’, Beck’s theory of ‘zombie categories’, Ritzer’s notion of ‘McDonalization’ and autistic echolalia. In order to resolve the problematic phenomena, the researcher provides a formula that suggests that the musical elements should be surrounded by the human elements and both the musical and human elements should be based on the work of the Spirit. It is referred to as a holistic music ministry within the pneumatological, anthropological and musicological dimensions. This formula is suggested in the light of contributions from theologicans such as Bohren, Edwards and Begbie. The research study concludes with providing another formula for the music ministry that acts as a hermeneutical continuum with the first formula (a holistic music ministry), namely, a hermeneutical circle of reciprocity between lex orandi, lex credendi, lex canendi, lex vivendi. This formula describes a right correlation with liturgy (lex orandi), theology (lex credendi), music (lex canendi) and life (lex vivendi). The correlation between the four elements is based on the Latin axiom ‘lex orandi, lex credendi’ that describes the dialectic relationship between liturgy and theology. In order to explain this correlation, the voices of some liturgists are considered, for instance, Wainwright, Schmemann and Kavanagh. Moreover, in order to suggest a hermeneutical circle of reciprocity, the voices which distinguish true aesthetics from kitsch aesthetics from the theological perspective are listened to, for instance, Kierkegaard, Cilliers and Campbell. The two formulas may be useful as tools to solve problematic phenomena in the South Korean music ministry and to shape true worshippers, true theologians, true musicians and true believers.
Author: Yong‐Jun Kwon
Language: English
Subfield: Religious studies
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2801098738