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The Wisdom of the Book of Proverbs for Ecological Transformation of Inequal Society

  • Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
  • Abbr : KJOTS
  • 2021, 27(3), pp.182-215
  • DOI : 10.24333/jkots.2021.27.3.182
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : June 24, 2021
  • Accepted : August 17, 2021

Kim Soon Young 1

1한국연구재단

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper is to explore ecological wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. It aims to find ways to cope with the crises of ecological inequality and to present awakening and alternatives toward ecological transformation. Sociologist Ulrich Beck noted that it is impossible to identify the climate crisis without considering the impact of climate change on social inequality. He also pointed out that the climate crisis deepens inequality between the poor and the rich, the center and the periphery. A clear example of this economic imbalance is growing rapidly with the COVID-19 pandemic. Above all, platform labor, which has changed the existing way of economic activities, is creating an unfair “risk society” by mass-producing more “transparent workers” next to us. Thus this paper is an attempt to respond to this reality in a biblical way. The Book of Proverbs is a repository of wisdom that penetrates the principles of deep natural order and the reality of human life. The discussion is based on Leonardo Boff's view of social ecology and an ecological ethic aimed at balancing the global community, which combines labor, symbiosis, friendship, justice, and solidarity. The paper also considers the “interconnectedness” principle among the six “ecological principles” of the Earth Bible Project and the justice for the Earth. First, the chosen texts serve as an awakening agent to confront and detoxify the indiscriminate marketism principles and inequality of modern society. The texts include the practical dimensions of fair economic activity and participation (Prov. 11:11; 20:10; 20:14), the twisted relationship between hard work and wealth (13:23), and the issue of laziness and poverty (6:6-11). Second, the selected proverbs are suggestions for reflecting on unequal society, ecological justice, the path to ecological transformation. Life is harder on the poor (10:15; 19:7), but the proverbs that emphasize the dignity of the poor and the protection of human rights (14:31; 22:22-23) can serve as guidelines for restoring ecological justice. Finally, Agur's prayer (30:7-9) warns against the greed of humankind, which has led to our ecological crisis. The spirit of wisdom not to seize the weak(2:22) and the prayer of Aghur seem too trivial and fragile, but they are guides for resistance and innovation that control greed. The paradoxical way of life that is satisfied with a simple lifestyle sublimates into religious beauty and becomes the wisdom of symbiosis and communal enjoyment.

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