Social Changes and Religion’s Response: An Analysis of the Symbolism in the Controversies Surrounding the Ordination of Women in Korea*

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Abstract

This study analyzes the symbolism of the long-standing controversies surrounding the ordination of women in Korean Protestantism from the 1930s to the present day. How did internal and external changes in religious resources lead to a noticeable shift in the subject and resources of the debate on the female pastor? Moreover, what conflicts and divisions can we observe within religions when it comes to interpreting and accepting these changes? Lastly, how has this entire process altered the symbolism behind the current disputes surrounding the ordination of women? Active feminist movements in the 1980s, the introduction of feminist theology, and the experience of solidarity among women played a significant role in constructing alternative interpretations of the Bible as well as a “femalecentered” religious discourse. To the female believers who turned to activism, the issue of ordaining women became emblematic of the need to reform the church whose patriarchal customs stemmed from secular society. Notwithstanding, certain groups dismissed this feminist movement as a secular trend, thereby reinforcing their exclusivity through strict adherence to the concept of biblical inerrancy. Fundamentalists, in particular, expressed apprehension about ordaining women, fearing that it would signify capitulation to contemporary values and compromise the authority of the Bible. Some also believe that it could lead to sanctioning homosexuality. To them, ordaining women symbolizes an immense wave of secularization that breaks the taboos of the Bible, and therefore must be prevented at all costs. The history of the controversy surrounding women’s ordination serves as a vivid illustration of both the transformation and resistance experienced by religions in response to modern social changes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-298
Number of pages30
JournalJournal of Asian Sociology
Volume52
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • fundamentalists
  • Korean Protestantism
  • ordination of women
  • social changes
  • symbolism
  • transformation

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