Doing Theology in Japan: The Alternative Way of Reading the Scriptures as the Book of Sacred Drama in Dialogue with Minjung Theology

Abstract

Even though Korean Minjung theology is rooted in the cultural and historical context of Korea, it has direct theological relevance to Japan because it identifies the Korean “minjung” with the biblical Israelites and by doing so, the Japanese with the biblical Egyptians. This alternative way of reading the Scriptures as the book of sacred drama is the necessary ground for Japanese Christians to have honest dialogue with Minjung theology. It leads us to seek new ways not to remain as the “oppressive Egyptians.” Minjung theology as one of the liberation theologies requests both the oppressed and the oppressor to participate in the sacred drama.