Shinto Shrine Worship

Background

Shinto shrine worship was a policy under Japanese colonial rule by which the Government-General of Korea compelled Koreans to bow at Shinto shrines (jinja), the sanctuaries of Japanese Shinto. The Government-General maintained that the practice was a state ceremony rather than a religious rite. Many Christians, however, regarded it as a violation of the Ten Commandments, which forbid idolatry (Exodus 20:3-5). The requirement was first imposed in schools, and in January 1936 George S. McCune, principal of Soongsil School, was dismissed over the issue. Around the time of the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the requirement was extended to the churches.

Course of Events

• February 1938: The North Pyongan Presbytery became the first Presbyterian presbytery to adopt a resolution endorsing shrine worship. Before the General Assembly convened, 17 of the 23 presbyteries in the country had followed suit. The Methodist Church had accepted the demand for shrine worship even earlier than the Presbyterians.
• September 10, 1938: The 27th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, meeting at Seomunbak Church in Pyongyang with Moderator Hong Taek-ki presiding, adopted a statement declaring that "Shinto shrines are not religious." With police surrounding the assembly hall, only the ayes were called for, the nays were never called, and the motion was declared carried. Immediately after the resolution was adopted, Vice Moderator Kim Kil-chang led the presbytery moderators to the Pyongyang Shrine to pay homage. Opponents of shrine worship, including the Rev. Chu Ki-chol, are reported to have been detained in advance and thus prevented from attending the assembly.
• June–September 1940: The Government-General carried out mass arrests of those who refused shrine worship. Chu Ki-chol, Son Yang-won, Han Sang-dong, Choi Duk-ji, Ahn Ei-sook, and others were imprisoned, and some 2,000 people are reported to have been arrested and imprisoned over the shrine issue. Chu Ki-chol died in prison. The Baptists also refused shrine worship and are reported to have suffered persecution, including the closure of churches.

Outcome and Impact

After liberation, the Presbyterian Church rescinded its shrine worship resolution at the Southern General Assembly (the 32nd) in June 1946. In April 1954 the 39th General Assembly, attended by commissioners from both the North and the South, issued a statement rescinding the resolution of the 27th General Assembly on the motion of the Rev. Kwon Yeon-ho. The assembly also lifted the expulsions and disciplinary measures that had been imposed on those who had refused shrine worship, and it held a prayer meeting of repentance.

During the rebuilding of the church, the conflict between leaders who had participated in shrine worship and the released prisoners (those who had refused and had been freed from prison) became a major point of contention. Hong Taek-ki drew criticism when he explained that he had worshiped at the shrine only to protect the church. In September 1952 the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin) separated, led chiefly by those who had been imprisoned for opposing shrine worship (see Schisms in Korean Presbyterianism).

Assessment

The resolution of the 27th General Assembly is criticized as having been adopted under coercion and in violation of proper parliamentary procedure. It is also regarded as a grave failing in the history of the Korean church. Opinions differ, however, on whether repentance has been sufficient. Some criticize the 1946 rescission for failing to address the questions of apology and responsibility. Others point out that most of the presbyteries that endorsed shrine worship have still not formally rescinded their resolutions or repented. Still others hold that the matter was already settled by the rescission and repentance of the 1954 General Assembly. Some scholars argue that the movement to refuse shrine worship should be understood as both a faith movement and an independence movement.