The Making of Korean Christianity

This groundbreaking study is the best book written on the development of Korean Christianity. Oak traces the early encounter between Protestant missionaries and Korean religions and moves the scholarship in new, deeper directions. The Making of Korean Christianity is required reading.

~Dana L. Robert, Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission, Boston University

The Making of Korean Christianity is a remarkable book. Oak moves beyond the conventional stereotypical view of the early Christian missionaries in Korea and expounds a deeper understanding of dealing with the missionaries' encounter with indigenous Korean religions. I highly recommended this book not only for those who are interested in the history of Christianity in Korea but also for the scholars and students of Korean spirituality and religious traditions and inter-religious dialogue in Korea.

~Young-chan Ro, Professor and Chair, Department of Religious Studies and Director, Korean Studies Center, George Mason University

The Making of Korean Christianity is the most comprehensive and significant contribution to the study of Protestant Christianity in Korea that has appeared in a generation. Oak challenges the received academic discourse on the first generation of Christians and shows how early Korean Protestants dealt with sophisticated issues in theology and religious practice to arrive at their own solutions in the process of cultural encounter. This book will be the principal source in English on this period of Korean Church history for many years.

~James H. Grayson, Emeritus Professor of Modern Korean Studies, The University of Sheffield

A wealth of historical data from the turn of the last century on the formation of Korean Christianity is meticulously presented and carefully analyzed.

~S. Michael Ahn, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Themelios

[ The Making of Korean Christianity] is a must read for anyone who wants to study world Christianity.

~Gun Ho Lee, The Presbytery of New Hope, Interpretation

The history of Protestantism in Korea is rich and complex, and Oak’s work makes a valuable contribution toward understanding its origins and initial development.

~Sean C. Kim, University of Central Missouri, Sungkyun Journal of East Asian Studies

In short, Sung-Deuk Oak has produced an insightful study of the history of Christianity in Korea. This outstanding book is a must-read for anyone interested in modern Korean history, cross-cultural interactions, and global Christian studies.

~Joseph Tse-Hei Lee, Pace University in New York, The Asian Christian Review

[ The Making of Korean Christianity] is highly recommended not only for those interested in the development of Korean Christianity, but also for those who want to explore the 'creative combination of the principle of Christian universality (vertical transcendence) and that of inculturation (horizontal adaptation)'.

~Gun Cheol Kim, Africanus Journal