The cultural dimension in a contextual hermeneutics of suffering

Abstract

Most current studies of suffering are based upon an existential approach which focuses on suffering itself. Theodicy has mainly been concerned with people's attitudes and communication within themselves and with others about religious symbols and ideas. Particularly, this study examines the Korean attitude to suffering using its cultural dimension in a contextual hermeneutics. The researcher was interested in two notions: personal identity in its cultural dimension and the hermeneutics of suffering. The research questions addressed were as follows. a) How to define Korean personhood? b) What is cultural identity? c) How do people create personal identity? d) How does a person cope with suffering? The chief findings were as follows. a) A study of Korean self-understanding can be accomplished by exploring their lifeworld to describe and understand this people's language for daily communication, popular cultural myths, and spirituality. b) Cultural identity in this thesis means indigenous Korean self-understanding using the socio-cultural framework in its own terms and ideas. This self-knowledge mediates history, culture, and language. c) Personal identity is constructed by a narrative identity. d) Suffering can be coped with by communication with and through oneself, others, and God.