Beyond the Humanities: Viewing Humanity from God's Perspective

"There is no art that shows the inner world of humans and their questions about life as vividly as literature. Language is not perfect, but it is also an indispensable tool. If you want to feel close to living humans, the answer is literature." This is what Han Kang said in an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo after receiving the Hwang Sun-won Literary Award in 2015 for her short story ‘While a Snowflake Melts.’ This is also why we read Han Kang's literature today. Of course, her literature encompasses the voices of both the living and the dead. (Source: https://v.daum.net/v/20241012060049126, JoongAng Ilbo, Lee Hu-nam, October 12, 2024)"

As medical students, we are learning through the teachings and guidance of experts who use basic and clinical knowledge to treat and solve human diseases, but before considering diseases, humanistic reflection on the life of a human being is necessary.

However, as children of God, we must begin to view humans and things from God's perspective, the creator of mankind, transcending a humanistic viewpoint. Only then can we overcome the limitations of science in addressing disease—that is, the limitations of humanity.

In other words, we must guide the weak lives of humans bound by disease, interpersonal relationships, and their environment into the arms of the Lord so that they may find the light of life. Is there anything more precious than enabling a person to overcome human limitations and find true freedom from a constrained life by presenting the hope for the future, that is, the true value of eternal life?

A humanistic life, which requires constant reasoning, contemplation, and self-reflection in faithfully carrying out this process, will be an important guide in finding the path to truth.

Although not immediately visible to the human eye, as time passes, the seeds and fruits of life will bear fruit in people's hearts. Taking the lyrics of ‘When Winter Passes and Spring Arrives’ as an example, although it is undoubtedly a song based on a poem written by a human, if the lyrics were created with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in collaboration with the composer, the Lord's answer concerning ‘the reality we hope for’ may already be contained within.

No matter how intelligent humans are, they cannot transcend human limitations and are infinitely weak. However, the Lord's children have been granted the privilege and mission to do all things in the Lord who ‘gives power.’ Therefore, they can live a life that has a positive influence on those around them. What a precious value this is!

October 12, 2024, Cham Gil

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1. In their youth, whether it's school, work, or family life, it's not easy to find time to read a book.

Everyone knows that humanistic efforts enrich human life. Putting this into practice is quite difficult.

Even if I have time to rest, it's difficult to find the leisure to read even short texts attentively. This is because people have an inherent tendency to want to ‘sleep a little longer, rest a little more, and live more comfortably.’

Conversely, however, it can be quite simple to cultivate the habit of investing a little time in reading, both for oneself and for future generations. There's no other secret.

After reading the recommended text, summarize it in your own words and share it with friends. If possible, directly questioning the author is also a good way to share. It's not about knowing or not knowing, but the desire to know is important. This requires a bit of courage.

The Bible also says, ‘Ask, seek, knock.’ Cultivating this habit will naturally cultivate the habit of meditating on the word day and night. Receiving the blessings that God gives and living a rich life through interaction with people and dialogue based on a humanistic foundation, how wonderful it would be to share the word of truth in this way?

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