Shamanistic Influence on Biblical Interpretation

There are solid cultural affinities between Korean Christianity and Korean Shamanism. Consequently, Christian leaders and scholars are understandably anxious about syncretism. Yet fearing too much religious proximities can obscure possible insight into biblical interpretations. This chapter examines Korean shamanistic influence on biblical interpretations and explores hermeneutical bridges across the two religions and their cultural practices. How might the two core attributes of shamanism—all-connectedness and the (over)active role of the human mediator—be embedded in Korean biblical interpretations? For example, is there a more inclusive theology in reading the David-Gibeonites Story of 2 Samuel 21:1–14 through these shamanistic attributes?