New Religions #9 NRO’s characteristics and Relationship between Society Masayo Urasaki 14 August 2012
Today’s Class Goal 1) Review of Mid-term examination 2) Summarize the characteristics of New Religious Organization in Japan 3) To understand the relationship between Society- Law and Politics- 4) To understand Social Change in Japan after WWII / Movie “Always”
1.Characteristics of New Religious Organization in Japan 1) Founder 2) Teachings 3) Practices 1)Founder 1 - 1) Charismatic and Shamanistic personality - 2) Stigmatic person - 3) Pair Leadership - 4) Successor
2) Teachings 2-1) Easy to understand for people Ex; Do good for others with compassion Say greeting to others. -2) Including Social Reform Not only personal salvation, aim to social Reform -3) Universal World View assume something Great to be Universe Ex; eternal Buddha shakamuri(RKK), Tenchi- kane- no- kami (Konko-kyo )
3) Practices 3-1) Believer (layperson) centered Approach Not separate “Priest and Believer” -2) Respect “Daily Life in this world” Daily Human Relationship (family, community) -3) Earnestness for propagate for “Poor” “Sickness” ”Struggle” -4) Utilize some kind of Media Newspapers, Journals, TV, CATV, Internet
2. Relationship between Law Can people have new faith and act freely in the world? → it depends on the “Law” In Japan, The most changing year is 1945 (the finish year of World War II) Before not Freely (Social order, prepare for War) After Freely (but it appears the negative side after 1995’s Aum shinri kyo matter)
Influence of Religious Organization Law After World War II, GHQ(USA) ordered the separate between “National Shinto” and “Nation” 1945, Legislate “Religions Organization Law” → its only Sign up → a lot of organization registered 1951 New Religious Organization Law → Check and Certificate
Conflict with the Law “Healing the people” – medical treatment and religious treatment Propagate the teaching – threat of the Government Conflict within Believers (plunder the donation) Conflict between believers and non- believers (defamation / bribery case)
3 Relationship between Politics Many Religious Organization engaged in Social Activities. (toward Politics, Education, Medical, and others) →It is not ignored their “Political” power. In Japan, the principle of “the Separation of Religion and Politics”
Attitudes toward Politics 1) Organize the Party (Ex. Komei Party, Fulfill Happiness Party) 2) Send believers to candidate (Ex. Tenri-kyo ← only 1950’s) 3) Support the Party or Politicians (Ex. Rissho – kosei – kai) 4) No interest toward Politics (Ex. Konko-kyo)
How separate “Religion and Politics”? Soka Gakkai Komei Party RKK or Members of Shinshu ren LDP ( Liberal Democratic Party) Democratic Party Fulfillment Happiness Party
12 Workshop: Movie "Always" ☆ Please use the imagination!! After World War Two How change Japanese Lifestyle? Personal suffering →What are they influenced from that society? Search the peoples “suffering“ in this movie. After that, related their surroundings.