The cultural dimension in a contextual hermeneutics of suffering

Most current studies of suffering are based upon an existential approach which \nfocuses on suffering itself. Theodicy has mainly been concerned with people's \nattitudes and communication within themselves and with others about religious \nsymbols and ideas. Particularly, this study examines the Korean attitude to suffering \nusing its cultural dimension in a contextual hermeneutics. The researcher was \ninterested in two notions: personal identity in its cultural dimension and the \nhermeneutics of suffering. \nThe research questions addressed were as follows. \na) How to define Korean personhood? \nb) What is cultural identity? \nc) How do people create personal identity? \nd) How does a person cope with suffering? \nThe chief findings were as follows. \na) A study of Korean self-understanding can be accomplished by exploring their \nlifeworld to describe and understand this people's language for daily communication, \npopular cuJtural myths, and spirituality. \nb) Cultural identity in this thesis means indigenous Korean self-understanding using \nthe socio-cultural framework in its own terms and ideas. This self-knowledge \nmediates history, culture, and language. \nc) Personal identity is constructed by a narrative identity. \nd) Suffering can be coped with by communication with and through oneself, others, \nand God.