English: The Achilles' Heel of Korea. Sometimes I find things funny, and sometimes I find myself asking philosophical questions that could possibly destroy whole religions! Guys and Dolls, this is certainly the latter! John 8:32 states that "Then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Granted, even if you aren't Christian, the latter part of this phrase has become quite universal in America (an perhaps most places). I, for one, thought it was universal enough to have been properly brought over to Korea, and yet I was bemused to see that it did, but not exactly in the same words. This big stone with writing on it has that same phrase in Korea and English (and John 8:32), but the English states "The Truth Will Make You Free". Now I 'm sure there are many of you who will say 'who cares, it means the same thing'. But guys and dolls, it doesn't! In fact, it means two completely different things! by using the phrase 'will make' it implies force, that the truth will force someone to be free... perhaps free against their own will? Danger Will Robinson, Danger! The phrase 'shall set' implies that we are shackled, held against our will, by the sin and lies of the world and that only truth can set us free; the juxtaposition is between being a slave set free. However, the Korean version of 'will make' does not have that same implication. Sure, we can chock it up to lost in translation, but these are two fundamentally different meanings that could alter whole religions! However, it's carved on a rock in an obscure place at Yonsei University, so I doubt it will be a big deal. But, an interesting point, Yonsei does make all its students attend Chapel for a certain period of time while a student. Dare I say it? Are they making their students free with truth?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Day 73: Holy Jesus, No Free Will!
English: The Achilles' Heel of Korea. Sometimes I find things funny, and sometimes I find myself asking philosophical questions that could possibly destroy whole religions! Guys and Dolls, this is certainly the latter! John 8:32 states that "Then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." Granted, even if you aren't Christian, the latter part of this phrase has become quite universal in America (an perhaps most places). I, for one, thought it was universal enough to have been properly brought over to Korea, and yet I was bemused to see that it did, but not exactly in the same words. This big stone with writing on it has that same phrase in Korea and English (and John 8:32), but the English states "The Truth Will Make You Free". Now I 'm sure there are many of you who will say 'who cares, it means the same thing'. But guys and dolls, it doesn't! In fact, it means two completely different things! by using the phrase 'will make' it implies force, that the truth will force someone to be free... perhaps free against their own will? Danger Will Robinson, Danger! The phrase 'shall set' implies that we are shackled, held against our will, by the sin and lies of the world and that only truth can set us free; the juxtaposition is between being a slave set free. However, the Korean version of 'will make' does not have that same implication. Sure, we can chock it up to lost in translation, but these are two fundamentally different meanings that could alter whole religions! However, it's carved on a rock in an obscure place at Yonsei University, so I doubt it will be a big deal. But, an interesting point, Yonsei does make all its students attend Chapel for a certain period of time while a student. Dare I say it? Are they making their students free with truth?
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