In the new book, “Embracing the Other,” Korean feminist theologian Grace Ji-Sun Kim cogently argues that religious, racial, gender, and social prejudices can be overcome by the power of the Spirit. She achieves this by presenting a theology of the Spirit that enables humans to receive others unconditionally and not become perpetuators or victims of oppression and injustices. Shalom, a wholeness and wellness within oneself and in relation to others, can only be achieved by the Spirit.
One of the heartbreaking moments in Grace Ji-Sun Kim’s Embracing the Other — is her presentation on how foreign women in the Bible were discarded like trash as well as in detailing the sad plight of Asian American immigrant women as perpetual foreigners. These …show more content…
She argues that everyone here in North America is a hybrid-- and thus Asian American Women should not be merely cast aside because of their “Asian look”, but be received just as white European immigrant women have been embraced. Implicitly, Grace suggests that at least society must value foreigners and avoid marginalizing and dominating anyone. One must treat others as what every human wants to be received—unconditional acceptance, judgment free.
“Embracing the Other” is hardly groundbreaking in its revelations and claims. The argument for the power of the Spirit in breaking barriers of social, gender, and racial disparity and in enabling humans love others unconditionally is not uncommon. But what makes “Embracing the Other” eye-opening and original is the author’s emphasis on the power of the Spirit and Divine eros, intermingled with the Korean understanding of spirit, love, and affection. I enjoyed her explanations on the concepts of Jeong and Han, the former speaks of powerful bonds and connectedness of people while the latter speaks of unjust sufferings, both concepts deepens ones theological understanding of God’s commandment to love one another and to care for the foreigner in one’s midst. Grace advocated for these women to be opportunity to speak for themselves instead of simply speaking on their behalf. I totally agree with her that these women must be empowered and be allowed their own self-representation
One of the heartbreaking moments in Grace Ji-Sun Kim’s Embracing the Other — is her presentation on how foreign women in the Bible were discarded like trash as well as in detailing the sad plight of Asian American immigrant women as perpetual foreigners. These …show more content…
She argues that everyone here in North America is a hybrid-- and thus Asian American Women should not be merely cast aside because of their “Asian look”, but be received just as white European immigrant women have been embraced. Implicitly, Grace suggests that at least society must value foreigners and avoid marginalizing and dominating anyone. One must treat others as what every human wants to be received—unconditional acceptance, judgment free.
“Embracing the Other” is hardly groundbreaking in its revelations and claims. The argument for the power of the Spirit in breaking barriers of social, gender, and racial disparity and in enabling humans love others unconditionally is not uncommon. But what makes “Embracing the Other” eye-opening and original is the author’s emphasis on the power of the Spirit and Divine eros, intermingled with the Korean understanding of spirit, love, and affection. I enjoyed her explanations on the concepts of Jeong and Han, the former speaks of powerful bonds and connectedness of people while the latter speaks of unjust sufferings, both concepts deepens ones theological understanding of God’s commandment to love one another and to care for the foreigner in one’s midst. Grace advocated for these women to be opportunity to speak for themselves instead of simply speaking on their behalf. I totally agree with her that these women must be empowered and be allowed their own self-representation