Church and Power: Power Structure of Speak and Silence

ABSTRACT

Although there have been many critiques on Korean Church’s strong political rightist tendency and its ahistorical nature, there is no serious study on the Church’s mirco-power structure. This thesis chases the Church’s devotion to rightist power since 1990’s. To analyze this phenomenon, this thesis introduces Michell Foucault’s genealogy, and the writer reorganizes the structure of pastoral power with “speak and silence.” This thesis applies the structure of pastoral power with Korean family system and the organization of the Church. Since the period of Chosun dynasty, the religions of Korean family, Confucianism and shamanism dichotomize active or speaking territory with that of passive or silence. This thesis applies the binary opposition with Korean Church’s preacher and audience relationship. Preachers induce audience to say ‘Amen’ and audience respond preachers. Through this process, they exchange power, and control each other. The exchange of power through speak and silence reinforces current KoreanChurch’s culture of strong anti-communism and capitalistic success oriented nature. If power structure formed by speak and silence fail to be overcome, Korean Church’s ahistorical process and ultra rightist tendency will go on.