Heart of the Cross: A Postcolonial Christology

by Wonhee Anne Joh

Theologies have often pointed to the cross as a place of suffering and sacrifice, while feminist critiques have frequently argued against interpretations of the cross as patriarchal valorizing of suffering. Wonhee Anne Joh points toward a new interpretation of the cross as a place of love, where God and humanity come together in a surprising way. Interpreting the cross as performing a double gesture that has a subversive effect, Joh argues that the cross works simultaneously to pay homage to and to menace complex oppressive powers. Utilizing the Korean concept of jeong , Joh constructs a theology that is feminist, political and love-centered, while acknowledging the cross as source of pain and suffering. Joh's innovative vision is a call for political love that is stronger than powers of oppression.

Genres: Theology, Religion

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ryan Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joh examines the Korean concepts of han and jeong through the lens of postcolonial theory and constructs a Christology in which she argues that only through living in jeong, which is a deep sense of relationality that recognises and validates the harms of oppression and the trauma they cause (han) but refuses to cut off those who oppress, can we move towards reconciliation and healing, which she terms salvation.

This is my first exposure to postcolonial theory, a deeply postmodern deconstruction of the relationships between coloniser and colonised that focuses on the agency of the colonised and refuses clear-cut categories and definitions. It seems to be an inherently messy undertaking but a necessary strategy in giving voice to those who suffer and recognising power dynamics even in relationships that seem to have a clear-cut power relation. So I find much value in her introduction to postcolonial theory and in her examination of other Christologies through a feminist, postcolonial lens.

Her move towards understanding the cross in these terms is less successful for me because it relies on a heavily psychoanalytic reading which for me is far too abstract and literal in how it speaks of the repression of the mother-child connection which constitutes the original occurrence of han and how this is uncovered by the jeong of the cross. This psychoanalysis seemed like an unnecessary and unhelpful digression and undercut the beauty and power of her analysis of jeong in the life and death of Jesus. Altogether a thoughtful and well-articulated novel way of viewing Jesus’ life and mission and their relevance to oppression and suffering in our day, particularly for those whose struggle has to do with being in the in between spaces where identity and oppression are inextricably intertwined.

Edit: I was so disoriented by the postcolonial theory the first time through this that I missed Joh’s main point, which is that the reason the cross is so powerful is that it serves to both exemplify and reject patriarchal aspects of religion and understanding of the divine. So too if we reject traditional atonement theories, which double down on the patriarchal interpretation, we can give way to the relational force of jeong (interpreted psychoanalytically as a repressed relationality, the maternal aspect of love that has been displaced by patriarchy) that is breaking through and demands a rejection of all notions of “other” subsuming all humanity into a relational whole. An astounding Christology from Joh.

[Jeremy Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonhee Anne Joh, now a full professor of systematic theology at Garrett Evangelical, provides a in her first published work a stunning example of how insights from non-Western cultures can illuminate core theological concepts in heretofore unexpected ways. Joh’s key contribution is to introduce the Korean notion of jeong, a creative and connective reaction to the oppressive hardship of what Koreans name han. Joh examines Christology – particularly the moment of the cross – and concludes that Jesus’ death on the cross was a sublime moment of both jeong and han. That is, Jesus’ death is the result of violence by the oppressive powers (not by God’s supernatural design), but his compassion for both the oppressed and the oppressors through jeong manifest God’s love for all humanity.

Joh brings a superbly keen eye on traditionalist, feminist, and postcolonialist critiques of the cross, displaying the all-too-rare ability to sympathize with her interlocutors while also pointing out the shortcomings or overreachings of their thought. She engages Julia Kristeva, Jurgen Moltmann, and Giyatri Spivak among others, while also introducing Korean popular film in a theologically significant way. She is particularly good about holding the tension of violence on the cross without completely dismissing its role as a central Christian symbol. She also deals well with critiques of postcolonialism while also offering significant critiques of her own. Best of all, Joh insists on the role of creative nonviolence that is the heart of Jesus’ message and at the heart of the cross in jeong. This masterful book is a must-read for any theologian or indeed any Christian who wants a deeper and richer understanding of Jesus Christ

[Margaret D'Anieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly a Ph.D. Dissertation, so the writing is dense, and wouldn’t have gotten through it with our a reading partner. A lot went past me because it references authors and ideas I wasn’t familiar with. Still, much appreciate the work to rescue the crucifixion from traditional atonement theology.
Hope she writes another book with a less dense style.

[Sooho Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeong theology is now my own. Wonhee, introduced to me by Rita Brock, has been instrumental in my clear stance on post-colonial, eco-feminist kafou theological presuppositions. The power is in naming and this author has helped me so much with this.
Twenty year after 4_29_92 Sa-I-Go remembered by my 150 students because of this author. Thank you.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Korean-American concept of "jeong" as related to the theology of the cross, through the lens of feminism and postcolonialism

[Malachi]

She does some really interesting things with diaspora, alien status, and identity politics.

[Yanan Rahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful work, and convicting for myself.