A study of the common features of Kairos documents and a comparative analysis of Kairos Korea and Kairos Palestine

Kim, Munkee (2023) A study of the common features of Kairos documents and a comparative analysis of Kairos Korea and Kairos Palestine. MTh(R) thesis, University of Glasgow in partnership with Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

Abstract

The fundamental aim of this research was to examine how the church can contribute to overcoming social and political crises in modern society, and to examine the nature of contemporary peace mission. Kairos documents were chosen as a model and focus of this research, to investigate if they can provide a way forward for churches to contribute to facilitating peace in society today. Kairos documents already offer signposts for how modern churches can deal with and participate in social and political issues and crises in their respective countries from a faith perspective. Furthermore, these documents offer more practical methods for peace today than what can be learned from the traditions of the Peace Church in the pre-modern era.

In order to gain a solid understanding of the common features and characteristics of Kairos documents, the articles of several researchers, professionals, and a resource book, were reviewed and analysed; in particular, work by John W de Gruchy, Allan Boesak, Rifat Odeh Kassis, Naim Stifan Ateek, and Mark Braverman. The Bible citations in five selected Kairos documents were also statistically and qualitatively analysed, to gain an understanding of how the Kairos documents use the Bible to support their positions. The introduction of fourteen existing Kairos documents also helped to define the general features of Kairos documents by acknowledging the existence and voices of various Kairos documents. The literature review confirmed that there is a collection of church documents that can be categorized as Kairos documents, which can be studied as a group rather than focusing on any one specific Kairos document.

To investigate Kairos documents in more detail, a comparative analysis of two specific Kairos documents, Kairos Korea (“Declaration of the Churches of Korea on National Reunification and Peace”, 1988) and Kairos Palestine (“A Moment of Truth: A Word of Faith, Hope, and Love from the Heart of Palestinian Suffering”, 2009) was undertaken. This comparison supported the idea of understanding Kairos documents as a group of documents according to their distilled general characteristics. It also demonstrated how these documents are comprised of both confession and practical action and are documents of faith.

A comparison of both documents covered five areas as follows:

• specific theology including a confession of repentance;
• petitions and appeals to church and society;
• theological tendencies;
• programs for advocacy and campaigns; and
• their effect on the church and society.

This thesis is foundational research for ultimately studying how the church could
confirm principles and actions for peace and justice in a confessional manner.

• Item Type: Thesis (MTh(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BS The Bible
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Wilson, Dr. Alistair
• Date of Award: 2023
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2023-83819
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 29 Sep 2023 08:17
• Last Modified: 02 Oct 2023 14:42
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.83819
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/83819