Kijong-dong and Daesong-dong are hardly household names in the United States. They are the two “propaganda villages” in the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ). I had the opportunity to see them in 2006 when I was stationed in Korea. Like everything concerning the DMZ, there is a long and odd history around both of these villages. The point, at least in part, is to encourage defectors from one side to the other.
The DMZ is an interesting place, the dividing line showing the agreement of the longest armistice in history, having been in place for over 70 years. (I’ll avoid the rabbit hole of this history because this is supposed to just be a metaphor for what I really want to develop.)1
While the Korean DMZ is a real, physical thing, there is another border in the world that is a bit more metaphorical. It is the Tiber River, which flows through Rome. Yes, it is a real river, but it is also a metaphorical boundary. To “cross the Tiber” means—at least in contemporary religious discourse—to become Catholic.
I have crossed the Tiber multiple times. I assented to the truth of the Catholic Church in 2017, I was confirmed in 2019, and I physically walked back and forth across it multiple times when my wife and I took a pilgrimage to Rome in 2023.
In many ways, the DMZ came to mind. I felt like I was crossing the “bridge of no return” when I became Catholic. I knew there was no going back, at least not back to life as the way it was before I crossed.
Since becoming Catholic, I have helped instruct other potential converts through my parish’s RCIA2 program. I have also learned from and about “cradle” Catholics, those born and raised in the Church.
There are sincere, loving, and devoted people on both sides of the Tiber. Some want to encourage others to come to “their side.” Some guard to keep people from leaving “their side.” Some look longingly across the Tiber and wish their side was a bit more like the other side, but not enough to cross. Finally, some aren’t even aware there is a river or that there is another side.
I mention all of this as background to my own conversion. In my new series, “Tapestry of Faith,” I’ll explore many of the threads that drew me across the Tiber. In retrospect, it was a much longer journey than I realized, and it started much earlier. As I share these reflections, I hope they will be beneficial to people on both banks. Maybe it will help some to see the fullness of the faith that resides in Rome. Maybe it will help some to see what draws people to become Catholic. Maybe it will assist a few on their own journey.
Grace & peace,
Chris
You can just come back to all those Wikipedia links in a minute and spend however much time you want on the fascinating history of the DMZ.
RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It’s transitioning to “Order” (OCIA) currently.