진산사건에 나타난 제사관에 관한 고찰: 윤지충과 정약용을 중심으로

Abstract

This study investigates the two contradicting perceptions on the Heaven and ancestral rites held by early Joseon Catholics, Yun Ji-chung and Jeong Yak-yong. As for Yun, he faithfully followed the Catholic prohibition of ancestral rites to the point of sacrificing his life because of his belief seeing his parents’ command and that of the Church equal to God’s command. On the contrary, Jeong viewed the Heaven’s command the same as Sangje(上 帝)’s, which demanded human morality that dictates human mind by actions. For this reason, he publicly renounced Catholicism and continued to perform ancestral worship. Even today in Korea, the issue of ancestral rites still hinders many people from becoming Christians. A more flexible approach in determining Korean Christian attitude toward ancestral rites will be needed to establish a theology that does not lose its Christian identity while respecting Korea’s unique traditional culture.