Hope care to couples within the Korean text

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose of this thesis is to show the relevance of an application of hope care modelto the Korean couples who are in conflict and confusion by being caught in the battlebetween Confucianism and post-modernity regarding marital values.Korean marriages face difficulties due to the increasing intluence of post-modernity inKorean culture. The disruption of the family is the most marked consequence ofpost-modernity, in which an attitude and value system toward life, marriage andespecially self, is changing. Even though the increasing influence of post-modernity hasweakened the influence of Confucianism, Korean marriage is still influenced by the tenetsof Confucianism in terms of the role and status of men and women within four main areas:1) education at home and at school, 2) sex discrimination at the workplace 3) militaryservice for men, 4) the revival of cultural heritages as part of the rise of nationalism inresponse to globalization.It is said that the church has to take initiative to prevent Korean marriages fromcollapsing. However, the teaching around marriage in Korean churches seems to bemingled with Confucian precepts. This raises doubt about the capacity of Koreanchurches to contribute positively to the strengthening of marriage relationships.Marriage counselling in Korean conservative churches is being practiced within theframework of a reductionist view on biblical counselling. This is not sufficient in apost-modern Korea by the reason that this approach has the danger of ascribing allhuman problems to personal sins, thereby encouraging a one-sided God-concept inwhich God is only concerned with sins and righteousness and has no compassion forhuman beings in their suffering. When marriage is troubled, this God-image can lead thecouple to severe guilt feelings rather than to the hope which can improve their marriageand enhance their mutual respect.Hope care, based on appropriate God-images and a constructive self-image arising outof God's faithfulness and our new being in Christ, could help couples to achieve aconstructive attitude to life, to various crises, to self and to their partners. Since hopecare model includes the sacramental concept of marriage, the concept of the graceand love of God and the concept of 'mutual submission,' it could be expected toadequately deal with the fundamental Confucian values (male's dominance, female'ssubmissiveness and hierarchy), thus contributing to the attainment of the three keygoals in the Korean marriage, such as equality, marital friendship and a closer maritalbond. As a result, hope could then ensure a more healthy stance in order to help couplesto grow in marriage relationships.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University