Andrew S. Park
Encyclopedia
Andrew Sung Park is a Korean American
Methodist theologian. Park teaches at United Theological Seminary
in Trotwood, Ohio
. He specializes in systematic theology
, global theology, cross-cultural theology, Asian American
liberation theology
, Christian mysticism
, and the relationship between religion and science
. He has expanded the theology of emotional pain by exploring the Korean concept of han
.
, and fled South with his family during the Korean War
. They emigrated from South Korea
to the United States
in 1973. He lives in Beavercreek, Ohio
with his wife Jane Myong, and has two children, Amos Park and Thomas Park.
at Methodist Theological Seminary. At Iliff School of Theology
in 1978, he received M.Div.
. Then he attended Claremont School of Theology
and obtained a M.A.
in 1981. Park finally received a Ph.D.
at Graduate Theological Union
in 1985; his dissertation there discussed minjung theology
. He would go on to join United Theological Seminary
in Ohio in 1992.
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
Methodist theologian. Park teaches at United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright, it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
in Trotwood, Ohio
Trotwood, Ohio
Trotwood is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. The population was 27,431 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is served by the Trotwood-Madison City School District...
. He specializes in systematic theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
, global theology, cross-cultural theology, Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
, Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
, and the relationship between religion and science
Relationship between religion and science
The relationship between religion and science has been a focus of the demarcation problem. Somewhat related is the claim that science and religion may pursue knowledge using different methodologies. Whereas the scientific method basically relies on reason and empiricism, religion also seeks to...
. He has expanded the theology of emotional pain by exploring the Korean concept of han
Han (cultural)
Han is a concept in Korean culture attributed as a national cultural trait. Han denotes a collective feeling of oppression and isolation in the face of overwhelming odds...
.
Personal life
Park was born in what is now North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and fled South with his family during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. They emigrated from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to the United States
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
in 1973. He lives in Beavercreek, Ohio
Beavercreek, Ohio
Beavercreek is the largest city in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the second largest suburb of Dayton behind Kettering. The population was 45,193 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
with his wife Jane Myong, and has two children, Amos Park and Thomas Park.
Education and career
In 1973, Park received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at Methodist Theological Seminary. At Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology
Iliff School of Theology is a graduate theological school adjoining the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.An average of 300-350 students attend the school each year in the following degree programs:* Master of Divinity...
in 1978, he received M.Div.
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
. Then he attended Claremont School of Theology
Claremont School of Theology
Claremont School of Theology is a graduate school located in Claremont, California, offering Master of Art, Masters of Divinity, Doctorate of Ministry and Ph.D...
and obtained a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1981. Park finally received a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at Graduate Theological Union
Graduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
in 1985; his dissertation there discussed minjung theology
Minjung theology
Minjung theology emerged in the 1970s from the experience of South Korean Christians in the struggle for social justice. It is a people's theology, and, according to its authors, "a development of the political hermeneutics of the Gospel in terms of the Korean reality".It is part of a wider Asian...
. He would go on to join United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright, it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
in Ohio in 1992.
Books
- Triune Atonement: Christ's Healing for Sinners, Victims, and the Whole Creation, Westminster John Knox, 2009, ISBN 0664233473
- From Hurt to Healing: A Theology of the Wounded, Abingdon Press, 2004, ISBN 0-687-03881-2
- The Other Side of Sin, Co-editor with Susan Nelson, State University of New York Press, 2001, ISBN 0-7914-5042-2
- Racial Conflict and Healing: An Asian-American Theological Perspective, Orbis Books, 1996, ISBN 1-57075-078-5
- Korean Family Devotions, Co-Author with Brandon Cho, K. Samuel Lee, and Heisik Oh. Upper Room Books, 1994, ISBN 0835807126
- The Wounded Heart of God: The Asian Concept of Han and the Christian Doctrine of Sin, Abingdon Press, 1993, ISBN 0-687-38536-9