The grace of Sophia, the retrieval of wisdom as a resource for Korean North American women's christology

grantor: University of St. Michael's CollegeKorean North American women are torn between two cultures, Korean and North American, as they try to embrace both cultures and live by them both. A key to such a tension between two cultures is to maintain a bicultural existence by selecting appropriate elements of both cultural worlds. An understanding of Jesus which will release them of their pain, sorrow and han will have to be retrieved from both worlds. I propose that Wisdom is a concept or image which can be derived from both worlds for Korean North American women have inherited Wisdom from their Asian roots, especially through Buddhism. This Wisdom is called prajna, which is in some ways similar to the Wisdom found in Christianity called Sophia. Sophia christology will be proposed, then, as one that can contribute to the theological liberation of Korean North American women and release their han and heal them. Sophia Christ, who is manifested in many ways, can be depicted within the categories of Asian religion and culture. Wisdom is a profound concept that crosses all boundaries. Henceforth, in this thesis, I shall argue that in view of Korean North American women's marginalization and the inadequacies of traditional christology, biblical Sophia, understood in conjunction with Buddhist prajna, offers a liberative dimension to developing a christology for Korean North American Christian women. Jesus Sophia offers grace—unconditional love, acceptance, self-worth, dignity and strength.Ph.D