Redemption That Liberates: Political Theologies of Richard Mouw and Nam-Dong Suh

This book is for both evangelicals and ecumenicals interested in a holistic approach to the Christian vision of social transformation. The author compares Richard Mouws Reformed political theology and Nam-dong Suhs Minjung theology to suggest a vision of transformation that is theologically more cogent and politically more engaged. In general Minjung theology understands transformation in terms of political liberation and Reformed theology in terms of spiritual redemption and theologians of the two theologies have criticized the others approach as theologically inadequate. However Suhs formulation of Minjung theology and Mouws Reformed political theology based on the neo-Calvinist worldview show significant affinities with each other in their understanding of transformation in Christ. Both Suh and Mouw show a broad understanding of liberation and redemption. They develop their theologies in an inclusive both/and way of thinking and their holistic approach is contrasted with the exclusive either/or way of thinking in the Minjung theology of Byung-mu Ahn and the Reformed theology of David VanDrunen. The book concludes that redemption in Christ aims at an all-encompassing transformation that includes not only spiritual renewal but also liberation from social alienation economic inequality and political oppression. Dr. Wonho Jung makes a unique attempt to establish a common ground between evangelical theology and Minjung theology in terms of the social transformation from the perspectives of Richard Mouws Reformed political theology and Nam-dong Suhs Minjung theology. By doing this comparative study the author tries to explicate the political and social dimensions of Reformed theology on the one hand and appreciate the spiritual dimension of Minjung theology explored by Nam-dong Suh on the other. I especially appreciate the authors way of understanding the transcendental dimension of Nam-dong Suh Minjung theology. --Young-chan Ro Professor of Religious Studies Director of Korean Studies Center George Mason University Wonho Jungs study is a conversation-changing work for both the Minjung Church and Christian Worldview movements the two main Christian movements for social transformation in Korea. His work provides an important starting point of conversation between these two movements and needs to be read by both camps. --Peter Chang President Washington University of Virginia Wonho Jung is Academic Dean and Professor of Theology and Ethics at Neal T. Jones Seminary of the Washington University of Virginia.