Page 33 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

Preaching from 1934-1945

During this period, the Korean people experienced the most severe colonial oppression

from the Japanese Imperialists. The Japanese intensified their assimilation policy upon the

Koreans. Their intent was to integrate the Koreans not only in political and socio-economic

terms, but also in historical religio-cultural terms. This entailed the policy of forcing Korean

Christians to worship Shinto, the imperial cult of Japan under the name of “Spiritual

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Mobilization.”
The new police represented the most serious threat for Korean Christianity. Finally,

however, in 1938, the Presbyterian General Assembly gathered under Japanese police coercion,

and voted to define the Shinto ceremonies as non-religious. Any one, therefore, who refused to

worship at the shrines could be regarded as “individual fanatics, not even recognizing the laws of

their own church, and probably with some motive of rebellion against the government behind

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their actions.”

The decision resulted in a bitter split of Korean Christianity. Resistors suffered severely

and even bore martyrdom. The General Assembly was charged with collaboration. Before

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Harry A. Rhodes and Archibald Campbell eds., History of the Korea Mission:
Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Volume II (1935-1959) (New York: Commission on
Ecumenical Mission and relations of The United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.), 2. Rhode
records that “Japan had no doubt been preparing for war for many years. Her first aim, however,
was to gain complete control of Far East.” At this time, the Japanese military took charge of
internal politics in Japan, invading Manchuria, China, and finally entering World War II. In the
process, Korea and Korean people were completely victimized and exploited.

37 William Newton Blair and Bruce F. Hunt, The Korean Pentecost and the Sufferings
Which Followed (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth, 1977), 94.