Synodality as a Way to Realize the Church as the Universal Sacrament of Salvation in a Secularized Society
Authors:   The Society of Theology and Thought, Choi Hyeon Soon 
Published: January 2025

This study aims to suggest that synodality is a suitable way to realize the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation in the secularized Korean society. First, the concepts of secularization, secularism, and secularity are considered. The process of secularization emcompasses several dimensions. In the political-historical aspect, it involves the separation of the Church from the society and the state, as well as the exclusion of the Church from all secular realms. In the philosophical and theological aspect, it pertains to the movement toward secular philosophy and education, which excludes any theological and ecclesiastical influence. In addition to this tendency of secularization arising from the opposition between the Church and society, there is another form of secularization that resulted from certain branches of Christianity supporting worldly affairs related to profit, which gave rise to capitalism. Ultimately, however, this economic and political system has become detached from any religious reference. Recently, there are some forms of secularization such as the decline in faith and religious practice, the focus on immanent value system that excludes all that is transcendent, the indifference to religious matters or questions, and the affirmation of the absolute autonomy of individuals and society. The phenomenon of secularization in Korea is not exactly the same with that of the western world, as the situation of Christianity in Korea is different from that in the West. However, certain tendencies in Korea, such as the excessive emphasis on material well-being, an exclusive focus on immanent values, and religious indifference, allow us to consider the Korean society as being in the process of secularization. In order to realize the Church as the universal sacrament of salvation in this secularized society, this study takes its starting point from the teachings of Vatican Council II, which confronted the challenges of secularization and secularism, even though it did not explicitly use these terms. The Council viewed the world from the perspective of creation, salvation, and the eschatological fulfillment, and recognized the relative autonomy of humans and society, in contrast to secularism, which insists on the absolute autonomy. After the Council, this perspective was further developed in Church documents, recognizing the secular characteristics - which is different from secularity - of lay people within the ecclesiastical dimension, on the basis of the mystery of the Incarnation. Just as the Word of God became flesh and redeemed the world, the Church should also be incarnated in the world and work for the eschatological fulfillment of the world, which will be accomplished by God. The Catholic Church, acknowledging that secular characteristic is inherent in the human nature, affirms that the human himself, with this characteristic, is the way for the Church. Along this way, the Church should bear witness to the fact that true human development and fulfillment are found in communion with God and with another. And, a suitable way to achieve this is through synodality, the foundation and model of which is the Trinitarian God.