Juche: A Christian Study of North Korea's State Religion

by Thomas J. Belke

Embark on an illustrated journey into one of the world's most isolated nations - North Korea. A Christian Study of North Korea's State Religion takes you on a journey into North Korea to view what is possibly the most rigidly controlling religious system on the planet - Juche. Through the use of unchallengeable totalitarian power, North Korea's ruling elite enforces Juche ideology in every aspect of the culture. No competing ideologies are permitted. Under the Juche belief system, man is proclaimed God in a nation whose government has officially decided against Christianity for all of its citizens. The majority of North Koreans today have never heard the name of Jesus. This book explores the various aspects of Juche, including its origins, central teachings, spiritual dimension, and holy sites. It also considers the Juche worldview, propagation of the Juche culture, and Juche as a religion in transition. The journey into North Korea's state religion c!oncludes by considering a biblical view of the future of Juche.

Genres: Religion

413 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 1999

Reviews

[John]

i know that a lot of us who are involved w/ the human rights issues often fail to see that beyond the veneer of human experience of suffering lies the deep-seated spiritual bankruptcy. belke shares a unique perspective on the issues of north korea by connecting juche ideology to the spiritual realm. at the end of the day, he argues that juche is a religion, not the ideology of north korea.