From a Liminal Place: An Asian American Theology

by Sang Hyun Lee

Drawing on decades of teaching and reflection, Princeton theologian Sang Lee probes what it means for Asian Americans to live as the followers of Christ in the "liminal space" between Asia and America and at the periphery of American society. As one moves away from the societal center, either intentionally or by virtue of marginalization, one often finds oppression and dehumanization. Yet, Lee argues, one can also sometimes find liminality--a creative and edgy space with openness to the new, the emergence of community, and the ability to take a prophetic stance over against the status quo. For Lee, the liminal is key to the authentic calling and future of Asian Americans, other ethnic-racial groups and minorities, persons with mixed identities, and indeed all Christians. From this insight, Lee unfolds a systematic theology. Searching the Gospels, one discovers that God became incarnate as a liminal and marginalized Galilean. Jesus the Galilean in his life and ministry widened the meaning of liminal creativity and exercised that creativity in embodying the boundary-breaking love of the Father. On the cross, he entered the ultimate space of liminality in which sinful humanity can experience communion with Christ. United in loving communion with God in Christ, Asian American Christians and all other believers are transformed into a new existence in which they are emboldened to struggle for justice and reconciliation. Asian American Christians, like the Galilean followers of Jesus, have the particular vocation to exercise the creative potentials of their liminal predicament and thereby to participate in God's own project of repeating in time and space the beauty of God's inter-Trinitarian communion.

Genres: Theology, Asian American

216 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Sang Hyun Lee (born 1938) is the Kyung-Chik Han Professor of Systematic Theology emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary, and director of the institution’s Program for Asian American Theology and Ministry. He specializes in systematic theology, Asian American theology, Jonathan Edwards, and God and the problem of evil. He holds a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Harvard Divinity School and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.[

Reviews

[Sooho Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

**true rating 3.5

Originally known for his impressive scholarship on the philosophical theology of Jonathan Edwards, Sang Hyun Lee takes a more autobiographical note and pens this short appetite-whetter: From a Liminal Place.

For Sang Hyun Lee, liminality has a narrow definition drawn from anthropologist Victor Turner: "A transitional time in which persons are freed from social-structure hierarchy and role playing and, therefore, may be more open to what is new, experience a close communion with other persons (communitas), and become capable of prophetic critique of the existing social order" (Preface). What makes liminality different from marginality is the creative potential of the former (I believe Sang Hyun Lee is making this distinction to clarify what he saw as a confusion of Jung Young Lee's Marginality. For Jung, "marginality" describes both the negative and positive sides of being on the peripherals of power centers). This creative potential of liminality is ultimately, I believe, for communitas. Communitas seems to be akin to Martin Buber's Ich Und Du ("I and Thou") encounter. At the root of it all, Sang Hyun Lee cements his liminality-communitas construal on his understanding of what the Triune God does in history according to Edwardian philosophical theology. In short, the Triune God "repeats" his infinite, inner-trinitarian in creation's time and space. The result will be the Triune communitas established in creation. 

I find Sang Hyun Lee's proposal intriguing but wanting. However, 150 pages is not nearly enough space to fully develop his thoughts--a problem he is very much aware of. 

cf. www.sooholee.wordpress.com

[Jacob Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of liminality hits home to those of us who live as immigrants or children of immigrants (or of any minority group). While this book is NOT gospel, it does help one think through one's identity. While some parts of the book are a bit underwhelming, overall I think this book is a must-read.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book itself is very uneven but there’s enough in here for everyone to at least consider and be challenged by. I hope as many people as possible take up the task.