K. M. University, India Christianity in the Land of Santhals: a study of Resistance and Acceptance in Historical Perspective(03U)

Norman, Havens

Kokugakuin University, Japan

(08P)

Organized panel

Nose, Eisui

Ryukoku University, Japan

Social Contribution in Buddhism: Concerning the Movement of Chinese Buddhists in the China-Japan War(11V)

In the modern era, Chinese Buddhists had a severe period of convulsion wherein they resisted Byosankogaku-movement in the late Ch'ing dynasty and responded to the situation of the China-Japan War. Yuanying and Taixu held the leadership of the Buddhist society in those days, especially during the war. Yuanying established a school for poor neighbors and a home for orphans. During the war, he organized teams of priests for aid and for funeral and burial service. Further, he established and managed a refugee house and a Buddhist hospital. Taixu, not going along with Yuanying, while organizing a young Buddhist association for defense of the nation and a team for aid under the war situation, deployed anti-Japanese movement of relief. They also appealed several times to the Japanese Buddhist society for stopping the war. The principle of their activities was not merely nationalism but was based on the universality of Buddhism. These activities can be understood as Buddhists social contribution under the particular situation of the war.

Organized panel, Japanese
Nozaki, Kouichi

Tsukuba University, Japan

Conscientious Objectors and Christianity in East Asia: Comparative Studies between Taiwan (R.O.C.) and Korea(08S)

Taiwan (Republic of China) and Korean governments have enforced conscription on military service. In these two states, some Conscientious Objectors (C.O.) have rejected military service in accordance with their religious belief. In recent years different reactions to C.O. can be seen between the two government's policies. In Taiwan, President Lee Teng-hui introduced a civilian service system as a substitute for the military service in 2000; therefore, C.O. can choose non-military service at the hospital, the welfare office, etc. On the other hand, the Korean government has not been tolerant to C.O. and military courts have ordered imprisonment to them until now. In recent years more change around the C.O. situation has happened. Not only some Christian sect members, but also Buddhist priests applied to become C.O. in Taiwan. In Korea, a Buddhist declared C.O. in order to keep the no-killing religious precepts and some peace movement groups including Christian and Buddhist groups began to support C.O.

Organized panel, Japanese
Obayashi, Koji

Konkokyo Research Institute, Japan

An Analysis on the Influence of Believers' Faith in the Home Front in Japan - Focusing on Stories of Experience during World War II(09D)

It is natural a course that while people in Japan incorporated themselves into the wartime structure, faith fulfilled its function by elevating their fighting spirit. Faith sustained their lives, but not through simple doctrine. This problem had been evaluated in most cases negatively because this tendency to change the value of faith due to national policy was considered a deviation from the true importance of faith. However, if you establish the fact that they were unable to leave their national policy and that was the only way to sustain their lives, we can focus on how the value of faith was changed fundamentally. In this presentation, I will convey the meaning of faith in Konko believers during the war. Through conversations and informal talks, I will show that the human experience during the war until the catastrophic end will confirm the meaning of faith which people grasped.

Symposium, Japanese
Obayashi, Koji

Konkokyo Research Institute, Japan

Religion, Ethnicity, and Culture in Korea and Japan (3) Movements of Popular Religion in Modern States(09D)

The symposium, "Religion, Ethnicity, and Culture in Korea and Japan," has been held by members of the "Korea-Japan Religious Research Forum," which was founded in 1993. This session, "Movements of Popular Religion in Modern States," is one of five sessions for the symposium. In this session we will discuss the religious movements in the viewpoint of people's action. The title of presentations are as follows: "An Analysis on the Influence of Believers' Faith in the Home Front in Japan-Focusing on their Stories of Experience during World War II" (Koji, Obayashi), "Spread of Japanese Religions in Korea" (Lee, Won-Bum), "Formation of Religious Lives among the Koreans in Japan"(Takafumi, Iida), "Aspect of Correspondence to the National Religious Policy-Focusing on Korean Religion and Individuals under Japanese Government's Control" (Ryu, Sung-Min).

Symposium, * Session Abstract, Japanese
O'Brien, Wicker Kathleen

Scripps College, USA

Indigenous Churches and Religious Peace in Ghana(*co-author with Opoku, Kofi Asare)(12R)

In a joint paper based on their research in Ghana, West Africa, the authors discuss how missionary churches introduced conflict into local cultures. They then illustrate how local communities responded to these disruptions and challenges to their cultural identity. European Christian missionaries arrived in the Gold Coast (Ghana) in the early 1800's. Their rejection of the validity of other religious beliefs, requirement of monogamy for church membership, and educational systems that took children from their communities where they would have learned traditional religious and social practices, introduced serious conflicts into local communities and disrupted their sense of self-identity. Peaceful and effective resistance to these disruptions came from members of the National Consciousness movement who reaffirmed their traditional identities and practices, from inspired founders of indigenous Christian churches who believed traditional practices and Christianity were not incompatible, and from traditional priests and prophets who found ways to counter peacefully the attacks of Christian churches against their shrines.

Organized panel, English
O'Brien, Wicker Kathleen

Scripps College, USA

The Role of Religion in Identity Formation (2)(12R)

*chairperson

Organized panel
Ochiai, Hitoshi

Doshisha University, Japan

Life and Religion: Bio-ethics viewed from Oriental Perspectives(02J)

*respondent

Organized panel
Ochiai, Hitoshi

Doshisha University, Japan

Mathematical Analysis of Religions(15U)

This paper attempts to develop a common language among religions in terms of giving a mathematical expression to a fundamental structure of religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. All three world religions have a common proposition that the other who transcends this world is the infinite. If we consider the infiniteness of the other as an infinite set in mathematical set theory, we can interpret propositions concerning the other. For example, the immanence of the other in this world, the transcendence of ourselves from this world, and the union with the other and so on, can be seen as propositions in mathematical set theory. We can obtain analytical expressions of fundamental propositions of religions that makes possible an essential dialogue between religions.

Organized panel, English
Oda, Masayasu

Komazawa University, Japan

Distribution of Buddhist Denominations in Japan(16F)

Distribution of religions is one of the themes in which the science of religion and geography of religion have long been interested in. It is, however, unpopular among recent Japanese scholars, though we do not precisely know how religions are distributed in Japan. This paper analyzes the distribution of Buddhism in the country. After reviewing past discussions, it draws some maps of regional classification by denomination. The source is official statistics of the number of temples. The maps are made as for the years 1888, 1937, and 1959. As a result of comparing these maps to each other, it becomes clear that the predominant denomination changed in some prefectures. The paper also draws a map of the number of believers in 1922, which shows some difference from that of the number of temples. Lastly, a map of the Buddhist-denominational regions in Japan is proposed, where the country is divided into seven areas.

Organized panel, English
Oda, Takao

Toyoeiwa University, Japan

Transformation of the Center and the Intermediates(17B)

When we as Japanese therapists treat our clients psychotherapeutically, the therapeutic process which we use is often based on Japanese mythology. What is in question for therapists is to always ask which myths we will live in sessions with our clients. In this paper, I will discuss the transformation of the center and how we will be able to communicate with the intermediates, including opposites. We will be unable to treat our clients successfully while we are confronting their psychic symptoms. It is necessary for us to "live through our Japanese mythology" in order to be healed when we treat our clients. Living through Japanese myths psychically will function as symbols, although symptoms do not function as symbols. Healing of the psyche will be achieved through, for example, the transformation of Amaterasu, including "death and rebirth," Susanowo and Amaterasu functioning as "deities of the intermediates," and Hononinigi's descent to the earth.

Symposium, Japanese
Oda, Yoshiko

Kansai University, Japan

Exchange Between Islam and Oomoto, Shinto Community in Japan(03H)

*chairperson

Organized panel
Odagawa, Masako

Reitaku University, Japan

From Conflict to Peace: the Buddhist Philosophy of Kukai(15C)

The most comprehensive work of Kukai, The Ten Stages of the Development of the Mind, can be understood as a guidance of the mind from conflict to peace. The First Stage of evil characteristics within the ignorant man can be conquered by the Second Stage in the practice of benevolence and righteousness. In the Third Stage the mind intends to attain peace in heaven, but cannot stay there because of its false understanding of ego. To overcome this misunderstanding it is possible through the new doctrines of ego of Hinayana Buddhism in the Fourth and Fifth Stage. In the Sixth Stage the mind enters Mahayana Buddhism, reflecting on itself in Yoga meditation and discovering the root of conflict in one's depth. From the Seventh to the Tenth Stage, the mind liberates itself from this root and arrives at the realization of its "Buddha Nature" and perfect peace.

Organized panel, English
Odumuyiwa, Emmanuel Adegoke

Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria

Religion, Conflict and Peace in Contemporary Nigeria(02V)

Religion has a role to play in resolving conflict and promotion of peace in the world at large. This is now more relevant to Nigerian situation than ever before. This paper discusses how the main religions in Nigeria can be best involved in resolving social, religious and political conflicts and the promotion of peace in the country. Causes of conflict and absence of peace in Nigeria will be discussed. Solutions to conflicts about religious ideology, doctrine and practice will be considered, as well as recommendations regarding how religious teachings and practices could be geared towards the resolution of conflict and the promotion of peace.

Organized panel, * Session Abstract, English
Oe, Mitsuru

Rikkyo University, Japan

Semi-Colonial Mission Field in Japan-Jurisdiction over Japan with Anglican Missionary Enterprises(09I)

In 1894, ten years after Africa was partitioned by the Berlin conference, and also five years later Japan succeeded in revising the unequal treaty imposed by Occidental Powers, Anglican Missionary Enterprises agreed to divide up their mission field in Japan between England and USA. There was no room for the Japanese clergy to do missionary works in Japan independently due to the monopolized jurisdictions by the foreign bishops. Therefore, there was nothing the Japanese could do but go to Taiwan as a New Mission. Since then, except for the Japanese bishopric founded in Tokyo and Osaka in 1923, all the missionary districts of Nihon Seikokai under English or American jurisdictions had succeeded too many separated dioceses in the Nihon Seikokai as a negative legacy by the Japanese who were brought up under either English or America bishopric until today.

Organized panel, Japanese
Oe, Mitsuru

Rikkyo University, Japan

Missionaries Enclosed with Different Dimensions --The Agent of Occidental Culture and Oriental Culture(10W)

Missionaries were the apostle of civilization to a heathen country like Japan. On the contrary, there are a few differences on the missionary strategy between the missionaries and their mother church caused by different dimensions, such as the differences caused by being in a foreign country. Some missionaries to Japan saw Japanese culture as respectable, although both the missionaries and the mother church regarded religions in Japan as paganism. There are still some differences on mastering Japanese language or obtaining from Japanese culture between the pioneer missionaries and the missionaries after the pioneers. In general, missionaries sent to Japan spoke Japanese in the evangelical work and in the church, while they used their mother language in the early mission school and the theological school. Missionaries, who were in the front stage of the mission side of the church as the agent of both occidental culture to the heathen nation and culture to the mother nation, were enclosed in a different dimension of time and space.

Organized panel, Japanese
Ogawa, Takashi

Komazawa University, Japan

Chan in the Tang and Five Dynasties(08G)

The main theme of this period was "the self," which was closely examined by various Chan masters from different points of view, focusing on the relationship between the "original self" and the "phenomenological self." Chan encounter dialogue seems pointless at first glance. However, the meaning or the arguments expressed in these dialogues will become comprehensible if we can grasp this repeated theme which I would like to demonstrate by dealing with the Zutang Ji (J: Sodoshu).

Organized panel, Japanese
Ogawa, Takashi

Komazawa University, Japan

Zen Buddhism in the 20th Century(08G)

The 20th Century could be called an age of rebirth for Chan, which regained the same popularity as it enjoyed during the Tang or the Song. This period is characterized by the re-exploration and re-construction of Chan/Zen Buddhism as counterpart to the modern West. I will deal with Dr. Suzuki Daisetsu's books on Zen to give a rough sketch of the features mentioned above.

Organized panel, Japanese
Ogihara, Minori

Tokyo Metropolitan Hamura Special Support School of the Mental Retarded, Japan

The Formation of and Changes in Misogikyo Shintoism(09L)

Misogikyo originated in the later Tokugawa Era with Inoue Masagane (1790?1849). In his youth, Inoue learned traditional medicine and a method for discovering happiness from his teacher Mizuno Nanboku. In the prime of his life, Inoue had experienced the secret ceremony of the Hiji-houmon (Kakure Nennbutsu) tradition. He assimilated this popular thought and techniques, and became a priest of the Umeda Shinmei shrine in 1840, which was authorized by the Shirakawa-ke. At that time, he started teaching his own theory of Shinto. His main method of spiritual happiness was called Harai-Shugyo. This is a method for purification by breathing, while chanting the To-Ho-Ka-Mi-E-Mi-Ta-Me, a Shinto mantra, loudly and rhythmically. Inoue, however, was arrested by the Jisha-Bugyo, and was banished to Miyake-jima island. He died in 1849. In this paper I will discuss the formation and development of this form of Shinto.

Organized panel, Japanese
Ogimoto, Sachi

Hebrew University, Israel

Kabbalistic Interpretation of Jewish Liturgy by R. Joseph ibn Zayyah(04R)

Kabbalistic, Geonic, and Rabbinic literature, all refer extensively to the subject of prayer, in many discussions and treatises. My research examines a kabbalistic commentary to Jewish liturgy written by one of the most prominent kabbalists of the sixteenth-century, operating from Eretz Israel, named R. Joseph ibn Zayyah. In the course of his interpretations, R. Zayyah employs numerous methods of study. These include not only messianism, which has been widely attributed to him by several scholars, but also additional methods such as numerological hermeneutics, angelology, cosmogony, based on the Sefer Yezirah, several mystical techniques, and theories on the significance of the existence of humankind. By examining these methods of interpretation, I demonstrate R. Zayyah's contribution to the development of the Safedian Kabbalah, along with the way in which he contributed to the adaptation of Jewish-Spanish traditions into those of the Safedian Kabbalah.

Organized panel, English
Ogoshi, Aiko

Kinki University, Japan

(08N)

Roundtable session, Japanese

Ogoshi, Aiko

Kinki University, Japan

What Can Religions Do for Victims of Warfare and Violence?(13C)

No one can deny that the twentieth century has been an era marked by warfare and violence. The great majority of victims have been people not directly involved in fighting wars, such as women, children, and the elderly. The recent surfacing of these realities, which until now had gone unvoiced in male-dominated society, can be attributed to the appearance of women who suffered from acts of violence during wars. In fact, the voices of women have never been listened to, even after the end of war, because the brutal crimes committed by male soldiers against women had to be hidden from the public. One of the reasons why many women have devoted themselves to religions comes from their expectation that their voices may be heard and that they can be saved. In this panel, three presenters intend to deal with these issues. Prof. Kim will talk about countering historical violence by observing women's rites of mourning in Korea. Prof. Kwon analyses memories of the Vietnam War. Prof. Igeta. Elucidates the sexist and racist structure of Japanese nationalist religion from the viewpoint of the concept of "Kegare."

Organized panel, English
Ogungbile, David

Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

Creation, Procreation and Re-creation: Earth, Motherhood and Indigenous Spirituality(10L)

This paper examines Yoruba indigenous cosmology, which reveals the basic connection and conceptual concerns of the interactions between human beings and natural phenomena. From narratives in myths and proverbs to ritual practices, the sense and essence of rites of passage are seen to define the place and treatment of individuals, particularly in their genderized context and living experiences. The ecological concern reflects human spiritual treatments of the material and physical spaces and entities. Such ideas that are engaged in the processes of creation, procreation and recreation of spaces are virginity, cultivation, care, use and misuse. This paper looks at how material and physical spaces have benefited from indigenous people's spiritual concerns for Yoruba deities that are held to be connected with natural entities.

Organized panel
Ogungbile, David

Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

(12L)

Roundtable session

Oguntola-Laguda, Danoye

Lagos State University, Nigeria

Religion and Terrorism: A Philosophical Appraisal of the Activities of Secret Societies in Yorubaland(10I)

The attention of the world has been refocussed on terrorism since the September 11 incidents in United States of America. The often presented thesis is that these actions are linked with religious groups especially in the Middle East. However a study of the activities of secret societies in Yorubaland in Nigeria, have shown that these groups terrorised innocent members of the community with serious socio- cultural as well as economic implications. This paper seeks to examine the interaction between religion and terrorism(in this case traditional religion as practised in Yorubaland)an its attendant effects on the society. It will further reveal that terrorism is a global phenomenon

Organized panel, English
Ohki, Hideo

Seigakuin University, Japan

Globalization and a 'Theology of Japan'(04A)

The Clash of Civilizations by Samuel P. Huntington misframes the central issue that civilization faces today. The most pressing problem is globalization. If Turkey is admitted to the EU, for example, it will have to address the problems of democracy, separation of religion and state, freedom, and human rights. Japan had to face these same problems in a radical way with its defeat of the war, and it formed a new constitutional regime. Globalization creates a new context for religion as well. Huntington considers religions conventionally (e.g., scientific study of religion, history of religion). A new paradigm is needed. Christianity has produced the intellectual discipline of 'theology,' which has not only an apologetic but also self-critical task. My 'Theology of Japan' is not an attempt to 'Japanize' theology; but rather to theologize about Japan, considering also its religions and culture as objects of theology.

Organized panel
Ohtani, Gyoko

Rissho University, Japan

Originality of Nichiren's Hokke Buddhism and the Realization of Harmony(09M)

The originality of Nichiren's Hokke Buddhism based on the Lotus Sutra rests in the fact that Nichiren (1222-1282) accepted the teaching of the Lotus Sutra as the true teaching of the Lord Buddha. Based on the honmon thought of the Sutra, Nichiren proved the most superior nature of the teaching of the Sutra, the extremely respectable nature of the Buddha, the inevitable nature of religious practices, and the absolute nature of their fruits, the eternal nature of the Pure Land, the real nature of salvation. Then, he dedicated himself in the pursuit of realization of the world of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren attempted to realize the harmony of various religions and various thoughts by the kaie thought based mainly on the faith in the dimoku of the Lotus Sutra. Nichiren's unique logics proving it are the Goju-so-tai revealed in Kaimokusho and Shishu Sandan in Kanjin-Honzon-sho.

Roundtable session, Japanese
Ohtsuka, Kazuo

Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan

Discourse on Violence and War in the Islamic and Christian World(12B)

*respondent

Organized panel, English
Oka, Hiroshi

Ube Nursing Professional School, Japan

The Dignity of Life and the Gravity of Death in The Transplantation of Organs from the Brain Dead. – Seen from the Standpoint of Bioethics as well as Interdependence(09J)

In this paper, I will approach the issue of organ transplants from the brain dead, which in my opinion greatly contradict traditional Japanese conceptions of life and death, from the standpoint of bioethics as well as the standpoint of interdependence. There are several reasons for my disapproval of organ transplantation. First, the cost of the operation is extremely high. Secondly, recipients of transplants on average survive for less than five years only. Lastly, the recipients are likely to suffer painful reactions from their immune system. Therefore, based on the concept of human dignity, I argue against conducting organ transplants. In addition to above negative effects, transplants give the recipients unwarranted expectations of a long life. The acceptance of death by each individual, on the other hand, would lead to a more mature society. The technology of organ transplantation will continue to exist based on scientific curiosity, and I do not wish to deny the general merits of this scientific curiosity. However, we ought to decide whether to utilize this modern technology only after carefully reflecting on the meaning of life and our views on life and death.

Organized panel, Japanese