Jung Mo Sung

Jung Mo Sung (born 1957) is a Roman Catholic lay theologian trained in theology, ethics, and education. He was born in Korea but moved to Brazil with his family in 1966 and has remained there ever since. He works within the paradigm of liberation theology and can be considered an informal associate of the "DEI School," referring to the research institute in Costa Rica (http://www.dei-cr.org) where scholars such as Pablo Richard, Elsa Tamez, and Franz Hinkelammert are currently working. He is particularly concerned with the relation between theology and the economy as well as education theory in view of solidarity. As with many associated with DEI, Sung unfortunately is not widely engaged by many "traditional" liberation theologians. In his case it has much to with his rejection of the idea that some sort of historical subject, whether God, the proletariat, or even a particular set of social institutions, will bring into history the utopian dream of a truly just, peaceful, and harmonious society. His refusal is a complex one, though primarily based on theological presuppositions. That refusal, however, does not make him passive in the face of injustice. Sung works directly with basic ecclesial communities as an advisor, speaks regularly at various ecumenical events that focus on justice and solidarity, and writes rigorous scholarly books as well as others aimed directly at those laypersons who are involved in particular struggles for justice. He speaks about justice with the same ferociousness as most liberation thelogians but tempers his evaluations of struggles, projects, and proposals with his realism in relation to what is historically possible.

Sung's resume is available online. (http://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/visualizacv.jsp?id=K4763053T4&tipo=simples)

Education

Jung Mo Sung received his undergraduate degree in philosophy in 1984, a doctorate in religious studies in 1993 (from the Methodist University of São Paulo, under the direction of Júlio de Santa Ana), and did post-doctoral work in education in 2000 (at the Methodist University of Piracicaba with Hugo Assmann).

Employment

Jung Mo Sung is currently a professor in the graduate program of religious studies at the prestigious Methodist University of São Paulo, where he has been teaching since 1994. From 1996 to 2006 he was also a professor in the graduate progam at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo.

Publications

This list is far from comprehensive. See the link above to his resume for a complete list.

ENGLISH

"Desire, Market, and Religion", SCM Press, 2007.

"Theology, Spirituality, and the Market," in: "Another Possible World", eds. Marcella Althaus-Reid, Ivan Petrella, and Luiz Carlos Susin. SCM Press 2007.

"The Human Being as Subject: Defending the Victims," in: "Latin American Liberation Theology: The Next Generation", ed. Ivan Petrella. Orbis Books, 2005.

"Economics and Theology: Reflections on the Market, Globalization, and the Kingdom of God," in: "Global Capitalism, Liberation Theology and the Social Sciences", eds. P. M. Zulehner, A. Tausch, A. Müller. Nova Science, 2000.

"Hunger For God, Hunger For Bread, Hunger For Humanity," in: "Hope and Justice for All in the Americas: Discerning God's Mission", ed. Oscar Bolioli. New York: Friendship Press, 1998.

PORTUGUESE

"Um Caminho Espiritual para a Felicidade", Vozes, 2007.

"Educar para Reencantar a Vida", Vozes, 2006.

"Sementes de Esperança: A Fé em um Mundo em Crise", Vozes, 2005.

"Competência e Sensibilidade Solidária: Educar para Esperança", with Hugo Assmann, Vozes, 2000.

"Conversando sobre Ética e Sociedade", Vozes, 1995.

"Teologia e Economia: Repensando A Teologia da Libertação e Utopias", Vozes, 1994.

"Deus Numa Economia Sem Coração. Neoliberalismo e Pobreza: Desafios À Evangelização", Paulus, 1992.

Impact of Dr. Sung's work abroad

Several of Dr. Sung's texts have been translated into Italian, Spanish, Korean, English, and German. He is gradually gaining prominence and exposure in the United States, speaking, for example, twice in the last three years at the annual national meeting of the American Academy of Religion (a large convention with over 11,000 participants).

For some basic external references about his work, see "Moral Theology in Latin America" by Dean Brackey and Thomas Schubeck in "Theological Studies" (March 2002, vol.63, issue 1). Also, look at Ivan Petrella, "The Future of Liberation Theology" (SCM Press, 2006) (26 references) and an edited volume of articles (one of which is Sung's) edited by Dr. Petrella entitled "Latin American Liberation Theology: The Next Generation" (Orbis Books, 2005). The latter volume, Petrella states, "opens with Jung Mo Sung, the most prolific next-generation voice within mainstream contemporary Latin American liberation theology" (p. xvi).

Dr. Petrella also discusses Jung Mo Sung's critique of earlier liberation theologians in his article "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Making Over of Liberation Theology, A Queer Discursive Approach" in "Liberation Theology and Sexuality", ed. Marcella Althaus-Reid (Ashgate, 2006), p. 33-49.

For those with knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese, a simple web search will yield innumerable links to speeches, articles, book reviews, and appraisals of his work. A glance at his curriculum vitae (the link included above) reveals the prolific character of his work in Latin America, the importance of his writings for both popular and academic audiences, and the respect he has gained as a teacher, speaker, advisor, commentator, and theologian.

The "bibliography of major international book publications, discussing this liberation theologian's contribution", looks like a veritable "Who is Who" of modern theology today and includes such liberation theology classics as "The Future of Liberation Theology: An Argument and Manifesto" by Ivan Petrella

Latin American Perspectives on Globalization: Ethics, Politics" by Mario Sáenz

Liberation Theology And Sexuality" by Marcella Althaus-Reid

"The encyclopedia of Christianity" by Erwin Fahlbusch, et al.

"Religion in the New Millennium: Theology in the Spirit of Paul Tillich" by Raymond F. Bulman, Frederick J. Parrella

"Interpreting the Postmodern: Responses to "Radical Orthodoxy"" by Rosemary Radford Ruether, Marion Grau

"The War of Gods: Religion and Politics in Latin America" by Michael Lowy

"Liberation Theologies on Shifting Grounds" by Georges de Schrijver

"Christ & Empire: From Paul to Postcolonial Times" by Joerg Rieger

"The Blackwell Companion to the Bible and Culture" by John F. A. Sawyer

"Global Ethics And Civil Society" by John Eade, Darren J. O'Byrne

"Out of the Depths: Women's Experience of Evil and Salvation" by Ivone Gebara

"In Search of the Good Life: The Ethics of Globalization" by Rebecca Todd Peters

"Religion in a Secular City: Essays in Honor of Harvey Cox" by Harvey Gallagher Cox, Arvind Sharma

"An Introduction to Third World Theologies" by John Parratt

"Liberation Theologies, Postmodernity, and the Americas" by David B. Batstone

"Theologies in the Old Testament" by Erhard S. Gerstenberger

"Moral Theology: New Directions and Fundamental Issues" by James Keating"