earticle

영어

This study explores the potential role of the church as a secure base in transforming the unstable attachments of modern individuals into stable ones. Contemporary society is marked by instability. Families are breaking apart, and busy parents are often unable to spend sufficient time with their children. In the past, it was common in Korea for three generations—grandparents, parents, and children—to live together. However, this is now the era of nuclear families. As a result, parents are often anxious and concerned about their children's safety, while children, in turn, worry that their parents might divorce. Such an unstable family environment fails to provide children with a secure base, which is a fundamental condition for developing stable attachments. John Bowlby’s attachment theory emphasizes that individuals form stable attachments when they experience consistent and secure interactions with their primary caregiver, the person who spends the most time with them. Individuals who have developed stable attachments tend to demonstrate strong crisis management skills and high levels of creativity. Conversely, those with unstable attachments— unable to establish secure emotional bonds—often face significant difficulties in both family and social relationships. Furthermore, since attachment styles are frequently transmitted across generations, children of parents with insecure attachments often develop similar patterns themselves. To prevent this intergenerational transmission of insecure attachment, individuals must have opportunities to experience a secure base within safe communities—opportunities that may not be available from their parents. In today’s society, where can individuals find a community that offers regular interactions and a stable, safe environment? This study proposes the church community as a viable alternative that can provide such a stable, consistent and secure base. As a pastor overseeing the Ministry of Youth, I have directly observed the breakdown of families and how non-Christian youth with unstable family backgrounds can form secure attachments within the church community. This study first examines the characteristics of both secure and insecure attachments to assess how the church community can foster secure attachment by serving as a secure base for individuals with attachment difficulties. It then outlines the concept of the secure base and the internal working model. Finally, it discusses how the church can function as a secure base and contribute to the development of a positive internal working model.