Working for Harmony Among Religions

"Prejudice No, Understanding and Harmony Yes" was the headline in the Catholic Times article on the 14th Religious Cultural Festival held last month in Seoul. The theme was: Let us go together with one heart.  Seven religious groups participated: Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, Won Buddhists, Chondogyo, Confucianists, and the Korean traditional religions.

Each religion had a booth where those interested could learn about its teachings. One Catholic said, "it was nice to see the different religions coming together without prejudice and to get to know something about them." There were also artistic expressions of each religion. The Catholics had liturgical displays and information about the Mass and the making of rosary bracelets. There was also dancing, singing and fun things to do. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about each others' religion. One of the journalists on the opinion page said that Korea was the only country where religions get along harmoniously. That may have been an exaggeration but they do make efforts to get along, for the most part, in a way you do not see  happening in many other countries of the world.

Here in Gyodong the Methodists, who have been in Gyodong for well over a hundred years and have churches in many different villages on the island, have a program preparing  lunches for those over 65 who are poor and living alone. Since the Methodists are the only other religious group besides the Catholics with Churches they asked the Catholics to help with the lunch preparation and we were happy to oblige. Before and after Mass on Fridays our women prepare the lunch boxes which are later distributed by the Methodists. It's a small thing but it is a sign of interreligious cooperation in an area that shows our common love for the poor, with Jesus as our common teacher.

Recently there was an article in the daily paper mentioning that some Protestants were praying for the destruction of Buddhism and demeaning it by what they were saying and doing. The Buddhists have thought it important enough to meet on the issue. This will always be the case when you have groups within groups that feel they have a better understanding of the issues than others. When you have so many different religions and believers, unanimity is impossible; bickering between religions seen from the outside, is difficult to accept and leave many  with sadness. And yet Korea is an example of a country that is working to find harmony between religions.

Mental Health and Religion

Are we happy because of our faith? What is the meaning of faith in our lives? Do we believe we have a happier and fuller understanding of life when God enters?  These are the questions posed by a columnist in our Incheon Weekly. It's his belief that most therapists, from their many years of experience with those who come to them for help, are convinced that for optimal health God must be part of any successful treatment.
 
The aim of treatment for psychological problems is to achieve mental health: peace, inner freedom, self-development and growth. This can appear to be something spontaneous. Often a person, after consultation with a therapist,, will feel his problem has disappeared and resumes a normal life but another problem often arises that brings him back for more help. Health is a life long search for integration and, like life itself, is an on-going process.

Religion points the the way and gives us guidelines for health and happiness. Religious maturity and a life of faith will often determine a person's mental health, his self- knowledge, self esteem, inner peace and happiness. Not surprisingly, studies of the relationship between mature religion and mental health have shown this to be true.

With religion, we have a unique Supporter. We may be weak, lacking much and sinful, lost in a desert of meaninglessness, feeling no one loves us, but with the correct attitude we  know that God loves us and that makes for a joyful and hopeful person.

Essentially all treatment and healing comes with being loved. Knowing we are loved opens the way of hope, even with the difficulties and scars inflicted by life. The Church community also allows us to share and communicate; traveling the same road we can depend on one another.

Once we know God, are we happy? Answering yes to this question means we must also make an effort to plant this same faith and joy in the hearts of others, especially the children. The development of faith requires effort if it is to guide us to a mature faith life. If we work to raise our children's grades and self confidence, we should also consider the essential part faith life has in maintaining their mental health, as well. 

Mistakes Are Not Sins And the Difference Is Important

The columnist who writes on spiritual matters for the Catholic Times suggests that we all would be better off if we acknowledge our mistakes, laugh and enjoy life. He recounts the story of a boy who spilled soup on his clothes while eating and anxiously tried to erase all signs of his carelessness.  The child was asked why he was so anxious to clean the spot. He said his friends would make fun of him, and the columnist said his friends would not even see the spot; there was need to worry, but the child was not convinced.

We know what the columnist means for we have had the same experience. If  we splatter something on our clothes we want as quickly as possibly to change our clothes.  We feel awkward. We know that nobody will see the spot or be interested or concerned, but still it bothers us.  It's not the spot that really is the problem.

Humans make mistakes. That is no surprise and is to be expected. But we freguently are overcome by what we have done, are ashamed, blame ourselves and worry about what others will think; and here we are not talking about big issues but trifles. If one is mature and has his emotions under control, he can admit to mistakes. And if he has hurt someone, humbly admit it, be sorry and apologize. By doing so, we do not lose our peace of mind and can be more attentive to the needs of others.

At times  like the child, many blame themselves for small mistakes and are embarrassed to a degree that is beyond reason; we try to erase what was done but that only magnifies the incident, and in an effort to escape feelings of guilt we may blame circumstances and even family.

This effort to eradicate the memory of what was done is exhausting and ultimately self-destructive. We should be thinking of the present and not the past. Even though I can make a mistake anytime, and probably will, and unknowingly hurt someone, that should not paralyze me. Being open and magnanimous will make amends for the faults that I have and make up for my failings.

We should jettison our list of past mistakes and start living in the present. As Catholics we do understand what sin is and  how harmful it can be to ourselves and others.  With  sorrow and a willingness to change, we know we are forgiven.  However, when we make a  mistake or some fault is committed and we let that bother us as if it were deliberate,  we are not understanding who we are and making an error in judgement that can be very harmful in our lives. The difference between a sin and a mistake is not a small difference--they are worlds apart. Keeping them separate, refusing to confuse the two, will make a big difference on how we see ourselves and how we live our lives.

Korean Church Use of the Social Networking Service

One of the priests who have been active in cyberspace in Seoul and now in his own diocese explains in his article in the Kyeongyang Magazine that the Church would benefit by using the internet's social networking service. This online platform allows us to share experiences of daily life, thoughts, interests and information with those who are interested. An example of SNS is the mini blog, Twitter, that began several years ago and has surprised everyone by how it has grown. It only allows the sending of a message with 140 letters (characters) but has  been used by many celebrities helping its phenomenal growth. It will also in the immediate future be the service to watch here in Korea.

However, he reminds us that not all is positive with the service. Though there can be instant communication within seconds with anyone anywhere, there can be plenty of negativity, abusive language and false news. This is of course true for most areas of life and it should not deter us from its use.

Though his intention is not to push either Twitter or Facebook, the two most popular SNSs, he explains that  Twitter's  growth is due in part to its ability to connect with  smart phones; he makes clear that Twitter and Facebook are only two SNS out of over 110, and  this number will continue to grow.  He is happy to see that there are many Koreans using Twitter. Many Catholics are also using the service and a small number of priests but  would like to see these numbers increased. He believes  the Church should take a more active interest in utilizing the country's expertise in this area of information technology to strengthen its pastoral work and net working within the Church.

He tells us that many use Twitter merely to send messages and do not take advantage of all the possibilities and the different codes. He admits that for the beginners who want quick mastery there are problems. He then spends time explaining the different codes and their uses.

Although the Pope on a number of occasions has asked the Church to become interested in this new way of communicating, the priest feels the Church in Korea has not yet taken this to heart.

All Souls Day

Today we remember all those who have died and also bring to mind our own impending death. Three articles in the November issue of Kyeongyang Magazine help us to reflect on this important part of life. 

One article focuses on life as a preparation for death. We are always preparing for our death. If we forget death we will not be able to live the full life.  'Well living' is the preparation for 'well dying (expressions commonly heard  in Korea). It is in the 'small dying' each day that we can have new life, and in the last dying that we can enter eternal life. The Paschal Mystery has made this possible for us.

To believe thinking about death will lead to depression, make us anxious, pessimistic or passive is contrary to what we've been told by those who have thought deeply on the subject. Meditating on death is to face death calmly, with an easy conscience.  It allows us to see life as it is. It doesn't matter when we die or what the circumstances are. What will be important is the state of our internal life at that time.

In Korea, we have the term 'returned' when referring to a person who has just died. The dead person is considered as being away from home and would be returning. This is an understanding of those who have a religion and those that do not.

Another articles stresses that in recent years there is a tendency to avoid using the word death; it is missing in our art and literature. Love is easy to talk and write about but personal death is another matter entirely--it's taboo. But as we know when we suppress anything it is not easy to keep what we have suppressed from affecting us negatively; it can appear under many different guises.

Up until recent times most persons died in the home. The family was present and children were brought up seeing the death of those they loved. Today most die in hospitals or nursing homes; this makes death seem unnatural, far off and not part of life.

The way  the next life has been described is not  helpful. It is a mystery and when we spell it out too concretely, whether it is  heaven or hell, we are not approaching the subject in a way that many would find emotionally easy to accept. Trying to make our future more vivid than the message we have  received in the Scriptures leaves us open to misunderstanding and revulsion, according to one of the articles.

As Catholics we should be thankful for the many ways that we come in contact with death in the liturgy and in life. We have had saints who used a skull and other concrete ways to remind them of death. It was for them a way of enjoying the gift that has no end. We also should think often of the way we will meet death, and should not hesitate to make it a topic for our discussions.

Exporting Catholic Spiritual Books

Korea  exports many products and even the Catholic Church in Korea is beginning to export to the rest of the world--books on spiritual themes. Though most of the books here on spirituality are translated works imported from the West, we now have books written by Koreans, translated into other languages. The Korean Church does not have internationally-known theologians, but the publication of these books may well be a sign that their authors will soon be making an appearance on the theological world.  The Peace Weekly introduces us to six of these books.

Blessing of the Rainbow has sold close to a million copies. It is a book on self-improvement by Cha Dong-yeop, head of the Future Pastoral Institute in Incheon. The book has been translated into four languages, and this year into Spanish. In Korea, we have a plethora of books on self-improvement from the West; to have one written in the Korean style is good news.

Jesus and Confucius, by Choe Ki-seop, rector of the Catholic Theology University, and Professor Kim Hyeong-ki, compares the words of Jesus with those of the Analects of Confucius. The book has been translated into French and German.

The Lord Calls My Name, by Seong Pong-mo, a Jesuit priest, is the 12th book of a series on Scripture and Humanity.  It was written for those who  are troubled with depression and thoughts of suicide. Among those who will find it helpful are English-speaking immigrants to Korea, those who are living in Korea as workers, and Koreans living overseas. It discusses the grace of a layperson's vocation and others that want guidance on how best to serve in becoming true disciples of Jesus. 

Inside the Catholic Church of Korea, by Kim Seong-tyae, head of the Korean Church History Institute, is a brief history of the Catholic Church in Korea, from its start over 220 years ago--the persecution, the opening to the West, the liberation, the Korean War, and the canonization of 103 saints.
 
Prayer From the Heart, by Jesuit Priest Jong  Kyu-han, who gives retreats in the Spiritual Exercises, teaches us to  pray not with the head but with the heart. The book leads us to a deeper appreciation of prayer, and a correct understanding of prayer and its practice.              


Jesu-maum Prayer, (Prayer of Jesus' heart) by Sister Kwon Min-ja, discusses the  prayer process, the importance of prayer and how to pray in our daily lives. It teaches us the way to talk to Jesus like a little child. Sister has traveled widely to give her retreats and now the book has been translated into Thai, Chinese and English, and will soon be translated into  German.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Even With Trials-- Appreciating the Gift of Life

The recent suicide of the popular TV celebrity known as the Happiness Evangelist has elicited many questions and provided a topic for much conversation. A columnist in the  Peace Weekly uses this tragic incident as the introduction to his article, for the  series on the culture of life, which focuses on the frequent occurrences of suicide in Korea.

In comparison to  countries like Greece and Mexico, Korea last year had ten times more suicides, a total of 15,000, about 30 killing themselves daily, many of them either young or old. The number one reason for the deaths of those from 20 to 30 years of age is suicide.

The article notes that in the West those who kill themselves do it, mostly for philosophical reasons, a despairing response to perceiving life as meaningless. In Korea, it is more likely to be alienation in the family or workplace, or loneliness, or poverty and disease that provoke the drastic step. Because of this difference, the numbers of suicides in the West are less but also more  difficult to work for a decrease, but in Korea, we have   larger numbers but if efforts are made, we will see a decrease. It is for this reason that we see suicide as societal murder.

The Korean government  has taken an interest in this societal problem since 2004. But even with a five-year plan to prevent suicides, over the years there has not been a decrease of suicides but an increase. Although efforts have been made to recruit different sectors of society to help in this effort, there has been little change because of a lack of specialists and finances.

Catholics see suicide as a great problem, and we can't remain unconcerned.  Up until now, the Catholic Church  cannot be said to have done all that it could in this area of life that calls for justice and for demonstrating the love we should have for others. How can we remain unmoved by the large numbers of young and old killing themselves? The young are the future of the country, and the old should be enjoying their twilight years without having to contend with problems of health, poverty and loneliness.

There are some hopeful signs. Even though past governmental efforts have not been successful, recently the government has commissioned the Catholic Church to work through  the  'One heart and One Body Movement' in  setting up the Center for the Prevention of Suicides. This should produce some concrete results. The Church will also use Cyberspace, along with education programs for the young, and training programs to get qualified people involved in preventing suicides.

Life is a gift from God, and  the Church should be doing all possible to help those who because of circumstances have difficulty in seeing this.The Church with government  help should be able to work in a manner that befits the situation in which Korea finds itself.