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Understanding Jeremiah’s Prophecy in Jer 16 through the Lens of Trauma

INCHOL YANG 1

1장로회신학대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed Jeremiah 16 based upon Cathy Carus and Alexander's trauma theory. The community to which Jeremiah belonged experienced the mass destruction by the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 587 BCE. The exiles were necessary to reestablish the world view of God. In this paper, I investigates Jeremiah 16 as an example of the process by which a traumatized community redefines their worldview in the following four stages: (1) giving meaning through symbols, (2) explaining the responsibility of trauma, and (3) reinterpretation of tradition, and (4) restoration of the community through liturgy. Jeremiah showed himself to obey the prohibition of marriage and the prohibition of having children in order to show the future that the devastation surrounding Jerusalem will happen. In addition, Jeremiah foretold the absence of a public place where he could fully enjoy sorrow and joy in the community that would remain after the destruction of Judah by showing his refusal to participate in the house of mourning and the house of feasting. The symbolic act expressed by such historical Jeremiah is a representative expression of those who have experienced national disasters.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

This paper was written with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea.