Ha Seung-moo

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Ha Seung-moo
하승무
Ha Seungmoo Poet in his 30s at any cafe in Seoul.jpg
Born (1963-10-13) October 13, 1963 (age 61)
Sacheon, South Korea
OccupationProfessor of historical theology, author, poet
LanguageKorean
NationalitySouth Korean
EducationB.A., Ed.M., M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D.Cand.
Alma mater Catholic University of Daegu
Period1991-present
Literary movement Christian poetry, South Korean literature
Notable awardsPride Korea Awards 2020
The 34th Busan Metropolitan City Citizen Award(2018),
2018 National Theologian Award, others

Immanuel Kant thought that he gained knowledge based on time and space. and Albert Einstein thought that there would be no time beyond the speed of light. of course, "time" of Kant is psychological, and Einstein's "time" is relative. but, in the strict sense that time does not exist as an objective entity, is Kant or Einstein's proposition ultimately an imperfect wisdom of "99.9%" rather than "100%"? Ha Seung-moo evokes the problem of the essentially axioms of the 'Sophist type' of language. The river of time never flows, says time exists. The wisdom of the human writes the "Critique of Pure Reason", however, discuss the conversion of time and space. But poet say that people don't spend the time they think they do. These views of the Ha poet are extraordinary.

Poet. Ha Seung-moo's literary thought

Ha Seung-moo's literary thought is shaped by his unique background as a poet, a theologian, and a student of Eastern and Western philosophy. His writing, especially his poetry, is deeply spiritual and philosophical, exploring themes of human existence, spiritual journey, and the limits of human knowledge. Critics note that his work can be considered "extraordinary" and in conflict with some aspects of traditional Korean literature.

Philosophical and spiritual foundations

Ha's literary thought emerged from a deep personal and spiritual quest for the meaning of human existence, which he pursued through his study of literature, philosophy, and religion. A search for meaning: After reading modern Korean literature, Ha developed an interest in writing and philosophy and began questioning humanity and the "thing-in-itself" (the true nature of an object, independent of human perception). Influence of Western philosophy: During high school, he read the works of Western philosophers, including Sigmund Freud, Carl Gustav Jung, Immanuel Kant, and Søren Kierkegaard. Integration of Eastern and Western thought: He also explored major Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Ultimately, Ha's quest for meaning was resolved in his Christian faith, which became the central influence on his literary and theological worldview.

The limitations of human reason

A key aspect of Ha's literary thought is his skepticism regarding humanistic knowledge, reason, and language. The flawed nature of language: According to critic Byeon Uisu, Ha's poetry "evokes the problem of the essentially axioms of the 'Sophist type' of language". Ha challenges the notion that language can fully capture reality. Questioning philosophical wisdom: Byeon points to the limitations of human wisdom, contrasting the philosophical and scientific understanding of time. He cites Kant's psychological time and Einstein's relative time, suggesting that both are imperfect because time, strictly speaking, does not exist as an objective entity. Challenging perception: Ha's work suggests that people are mistaken about their perception of time, exemplified by the line, "The river of time never flows, says time exists".

Literature as a spiritual and poetic tool

For Ha Seung-moo, literature is not merely a human endeavor but a way to reveal profound spiritual truths. Revelation over humanism: While his work can be admired from a purely literary perspective, his underlying theological thought, the "Orthodox-faith View of Church History," is founded on biblical teachings and a salvific confession of faith. This suggests his writing seeks to express and explore spiritual truths rather than arriving at conclusions through humanistic reasoning alone. Poetry as a divine answer: Ha's literary trajectory suggests his poetry became a form of artistic expression for his conviction that "God is the only answer to his quest for meaning". His poem "Recollections of Homo Sapiens" is a key example of his work that introduced this perspective. Conflict with literary tradition: Because of its deep spiritual and philosophical core, Ha's literary work initially faced difficulties and conflicted with aspects of traditional Korean literature.

Ha Seung-moo's theological thought

Prof. Ha Seung-moo developed the Orthodox-faith View of Church History, a methodology for interpreting Christianity based on the salvific faith of the early church rather than humanistic approaches. As a Presbyterian minister and professor, he posits that all historical church developments and denominational divisions must be judged by their alignment with biblical authority and the original orthodox confession of faith.

Core principles of his view

Prof. Ha Seung-moo view is founded on biblical teachings and the "salvific confession of faith" passed down from the early church. He rejects humanistic historiographical methods, including those used by Roman Catholics and some Protestants, in favor of a biblical foundation. His approach seeks to create a coherent historical narrative that connects the early church to the present and future. Ha asserts that traditional church organizations, doctrines, and historical traditions should not be the interpretive standard if they do not align with the early church's confession of faith. Redefining Christian denominations Ha's historiography re-evaluates how Christian denominations are understood within church history. He criticizes the term "Protestant" as a humanistic label that originated with the Roman Catholic Church and inappropriately groups the reformers with later denominations. He defines the true Orthodox Church or Reformed Church as one that adheres to the early church's confession and the spirit of the Reformation. In this view, Roman Catholicism is considered a branch of Christianity that has deviated from the true historical Catholic Church of the early era.

Notable awards

Works

See also

Notes

References

  1. Jin-yang Hassi Daedongbo(Genealogy books of Ha family . Genealogy books of Ha family, vol 5, p.543(2000). Inje University Genealogy Library
  2. Poet.Ha Seung-Moo's Site .
  3. Hangyŏre Munhak. Publisher: The Han-Kyorerh Literature 1 May 1994. pp.282-290.
  4. Busan Christian Writers Association in Korea .
  5. Korea Presbyterian Theological Seminary. "Church History knowledge and Overcoming Existing Church History"(2012. KPTS Open Seminar Special Lecture Paper, Publisher: KPTS PRESS)
  6. Hana Good News
  7. Busan Cultural Foundation E-Archive in Korea
  8. [World Association of Korean Writers]
  9. Daily Religious News
  10. Yonhap News Agency
  11. Gwangnamilbo(Daily Newspaper)
  12. Hangyŏre Munhak. Publisher: Hangyŏre Munhaksa(1994).
  13. A daily survey of the Korean literary world for Ha Seung-Moo, BUSAN ILBO(Daily) June 3, 1994.
  14. A daily survey of the Korean literary world for Ha Seung-Moo, Church gospel News(weekly) June 6, 1994.
  15. History of Korea(in Korean)
  16. Ha Seungmoo's poetry world, and the metaphor of number The Monthly Pure Literature of Busan, 10 Nov 2019
  17. 21st-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians
  18. South Korean Calvinist and Reformed Christians
  19. VERITAS a(alpha). April 23, 2020
  20. The korea. April 23, 2020
  21. CRSNews. May 11, 2023
  22. K-channel. April 23, 2020
  23. Toktok News. April 23, 2020
  24. The Jeonnam Daily News.April 23, 2020
  25. The Chunnam Maeil(Daily News). April 23, 2020
  26. Edurank,2024
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  29. Edurank,2024
  30. Gukje News, 25 Nov 2020
  31. Busan branch Citation of the Korea Military Merit Awardees Association(2020)