[On Stage] "Distrust Hell Debate?... A Play Containing Healthy Questions About Religion"

Interview with Min Saerom, Director of the Play 'Christians'

The play Christians, currently running at Doosan Art Center, is bold and intriguing. It deals with sensitive topics related to religion.

The play is set in a large church in the United States. The protagonist, Paul, is the senior pastor of the church. On a special day at the church, Paul makes a statement during his sermon suggesting that hell does not exist. Many of the congregation are taken aback, as they believed that only by believing in Jesus could one avoid hell and be saved. Joshua, the associate pastor who played a significant role in rapidly growing the church, strongly opposes this.

The concept of "hell for non-believers," which becomes the subject of debate between Pastor Paul and Associate Pastor Joshua, is one of the most commonly encountered doctrines in everyday life. For those who do not attend church, the idea of hell for non-believers might even be a subject of curiosity. This allows the audience to quickly immerse themselves in the story. From the perspective of the production team, was there any concern that the play might be perceived merely as a depiction of internal church conflicts? We met with director Min Saerom of Christians at Doosan Art Center.

"I thought it was a work containing healthy questions related to religion, so the script was not burdensome. Religion deals with invisible concepts, so religious people themselves need to ask sharp questions. I believe that those who have questions about their faith are healthy believers. The various questions raised in the work are ones that healthy believers might consider at least once."

Directed by Min Saerom [Photo provided by Doosan Art Center]

Director Min Saerom mentioned that the Bible itself allows for various interpretations and that Pastor Paul's claim that hell does not exist is not a common argument in the U.S. She also hoped that the audience would not interpret the play superficially and misunderstand Pastor Paul's view as the main theme of Christians.

The playwright of Christians, Lucas Neace, was born into a devout Christian family but rejected his family's expectation that he become a pastor and instead became a playwright.

"I don't think the playwright wrote the script because he believed there is no hell. It seems he wanted to present a highly controversial topic and encourage people to think about it. Through this contentious issue, the script cleverly shows how other people's beliefs and convictions manifest."

In fact, the play maintains balance without siding with either Pastor Paul or Pastor Joshua. Pastor Paul firmly holds his beliefs but also thoughtfully listens to the opposing congregation members. Director Min Saerom described Pastor Paul as "a scholarly and idealistic figure who has studied the Bible and faith extensively," adding, "His idealism is a flaw but an attractive one."

As the play progresses, Pastor Paul's anguish deepens. As many congregants leave, his church faces financial difficulties again. Director Min Saerom tried to maintain balance even in this process.

"In the scenes where the congregation turns away from Pastor Paul, I hoped the audience would feel compassion rather than pain. So I asked the actors playing the congregants to recall someone they love most while performing."

She wanted to avoid the attitude of the congregants turning away from Pastor Paul from appearing as if they were completely drawing a line against him. This was to show that efforts to understand each other between Pastor Paul and the congregants who turn away were not neglected.

Theater performance scene of 'Christians' [Photo provided by Doosan Art Center]

Director Min Saerom said that the nature of the conflicts portrayed in the play could exist in any organization or community we live in.

"Every community has important values that hold it tightly together. Sometimes, blind devotion to those values may not be important. Sometimes, very important questions need to be asked about the values that hold the community together. Such questions might break down the community, but I believe some questions are necessary for a stronger community."

Director Min Saerom said she was recommended this work by another director while looking for a script that contains fair and balanced perspectives on social phenomena. The play has been receiving praise as a thought-provoking production and continues to sell out.

Director Min Saerom said, "I prefer scripts that fairly handle various perspectives rather than plays about who is right or wrong. It seems that audiences who enjoy serious and deeply reflective performances find Christians interesting."