I think the theology of the 21st century should be focused on the particular experience of women and men, of old and young, of all the classes and races. These experiences should be the main subject in the process of theologization, adding the specific circumstances of all and the dimensions of the strength of life towards our theological thinking. Furthermore, women should try to contribute in constructing a comprehensive theology, which gives new life not only to the physical body and soul of the human being but also to the world of nature, as a form of physical (body)-theology and eco-theology.

I believe, therefore, women have to establish new alternative practical communities beyond Christianity to live together and coexist with all human beings peacefully in happiness and pleasure.

Examination of main values in religious education
All living creatures, which are created by God, should be respected irrespective of the different circumstances in their lives. Unfortunately we are as human beings now living in a society of discrimination and oppression and we seem to measure value according to the amount of knowledge, privilege, and power. I think it is important that religious education emphasises the recovery of the unique value, which enriches the lives of human and of nature, enhancing the maturity of all creatures.

We must realise that religion can be both liberating and hindering, both promoting and frustrating life. Any religion has its effects and merits in releasing one's insecurities and fear of life. With less insecurities and fear, people of different faiths would be empowered to be ethical and to live positively according to their religious teachings or instructions. If a religion has patriarchal elements in its teachings, women are likely to feel that the religion is frustrating and acts as hindrance in their lives. Furthermore, when a religion is set as a kind of social system, it drives women to despair.

In the beginning of the Christian missionary outreach in Korea, Christian education provided liberation to women who were the outcast of society under the Confucian restrictions. These educated women worked very hard for the spread of the Gospel and campaigned for the educational movement. The activities of the women formed the foundation for the growing Korean church.

As the early church consolidated, men (ministers) who had traditional Confucian thoughts controlled Christian religious education. This demanded that Korean women sacrifice themselves and served the church, isolating them from the decision-making groups. This situation was mainly derived from the patriarchal religious education mixed with Korean Confucian elements and brought Korean women only more inequality and despair.

However, this experience of inequality and despair served as a powerful motivation for them to dream of building a new community and provoked them to take action. Suppression and discrimination of a community can generate the power and hope. They could make something out of their frustration, their accumulated Han, their grievances. Alone, an individual may succumb to her Han. Despair and hope are not separate, they are just like a coin with two sides and in that sense I would like to say that liberation and hindrance, promotion and frustration are not opposite concepts but they're related to each other.

Miran Yoo is a Korean minister and an artist and dancer.