Jeong and Han: The Clinical Implications of Postcolonial Theology on Suffering and Oppression

The new wave of Asian/Asian American postcolonial, feminist scholarship provides a route to engage in critical dialogue, raising awareness that essentialist notions race, class, ethnicity, gender, and religion fail account for the complex dynamic social reality individuals with bicultural/hybrid identity face. Because psychology general integration theology particular has traditionally taken detached stance toward culture “other,” this article Joh’s (2006) seminal work, Heart Cross: A Postcolonial Christology, was selected amplify much-needed perspective cultural sensibility. Grounded theology, Korean concept jeong, complex, multidimensional meaning relationality, is used dismantle divide between self other, love hate, oppressed oppressor; way, traditional atonement theory cross reconceptualized so Christ fully embodies radical, inclusive offers vision wholeness life those suffering from individual collective oppression. As holds potential necessary therapy healing restoration, resource clinicians interested expanding language horizon integration—not just clients, but more broadly beyond white, normative borders.