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

Okabe, Yuzo

University of Tokyo, Japan

G. Arnolds Entwurf einer Mystischen Theologie(05Q)

Die um die Wende zum 18. Jahrhundert veröffentlichte umfangreiche Abhandlung "Unparteyische Kirchen- und Ketzer-Historie" von Gottfried Arnold (1666-1714), einem Vertreter des radikalen Pietismus, hat in der abendländischen Geschichte der Mystik Epoche gemacht, weil sie Ketzer im emphatischen Sinne als Gott suchende und mit ihm kommunizierende Mystiker betrachtet und durch eine Fülle von Quellenzitaten den fortschreitenden Verfall der Großkirchen belegt, sowie die Zukunft des Gottesreichs im menschlichen Innern verkündet. Die separatistische Kritik dieses Buches an kirchlichen und akademischen Institutionen provozierte heftige Kontroversen und scharfe Gegenkritiken, nicht nur von Seiten der lutherischen Theologen, sondern auch von Freidenkern. Arnolds eigentliche Absicht liegt aber gerade darin, von der Geschichte her zu beweisen, dass das Christentum in einer mystischen Erfahrung gründet und dass durch die Konstruktion einer allgemeingültigen, theologia mystica' eine überkonfessionelle Wiedervereinigung der gespaltenen Kirchen und Sekten zu verwirklichen wäre. Im geplanten Vortrag wird auch auf die Bedeutung von Arnolds Entwurf ausführlich eingegangen.

Organized panel, Japanese
Okada, Emmi

Tokyo University, Japan

Ideational Nonviolence: The Self-immolation Acts of Vietnamese Buddhists in the 1960s(17M)

In this paper, I analyse the meaning and impact of the Vietnamese Buddhists' self-immolation acts in the 1960s, which were a notable part of the South Vietnamese Peace Movement during the Vietnam War. In particular, my paper considers the dilemma of whether such extreme acts of sacrifice are violent or nonviolent in nature. My contention is that one must view nonviolence not only in its material manifestation, but also in its ideational expression. Therefore, although materially, self-immolation may appear to be violent, I argue that, ideationally, it belonged to the same conceptual and moral universe as nonviolence. My case study on self-immolation defends the importance of the ideational dimension of nonviolence, which is studied through its cognitive, emotive and moral components. The methodology employed is discourse and semiotic analysis of the statements of Vietnamese Buddhists on how they view peace, nonviolence and self-immolation.

Organized panel, English
Okada, Masahiko

Tenri University, Japan

Buddha Dharma versus Buddhism: A Comparison between the "Vitalization Theory" of Inoue Enryo and the "Unification Theory" of Murakami Sensho(02B)

During the Meiji era, many Buddhist thinkers struggled to discover the non-sectarian essence of Buddhism and to lay the foundation for a new type of Buddhist thought that could adapt to the quick changes occurring in Japanese society. Among their works, Inoue Enryo's "Introduction to the Vitalization Theory of Buddhism" (1887) and Murakami Sensho's "Unification Theory of Buddhism" (1901) are considered to be the most representative. Both works similarly attempt to find the essential teachings of Buddhism and to highlight its meaning in the newly developing Japanese culture and society. However, while Inoue found a supreme form of Buddhist thought in Mahayana Buddhism, Murakami claimed that Mahayana Buddhist teachings had no intimate connection with the original teachings of Buddha Sakyamuni. Such contradictions do not derive from the ideological position of the authors, but rather from the way they chose to justify their cases. I shall therefore investigate the rhetorical devices used by these two thinkers and focus on the factors that led them to argue two opposing views.

Organized panel, English
Okada, Masahiko

Tenri University, Japan

Taking a Walk around the Hall of Philosophy: Science, Philosophy and Religion in Modern Japan.(10M)

In 1904, Inoue Enryo built a temple named "The Hall of the Four Sages (the hall of philosophy)" as a memorial to the establishment of Tetsugakukan University. Socrates, Kant, Confucius, and Sakyamuni were enshrined as the four sages in this temple. Inoue then added many other buildings and constructed a theme park where one could actually experience the truth of the universe and the meaning of life through visualizing the constructions in the park. Walking through the materialistic and idealistic realms of this park, visitors can reach the realm of truth. In this paper, I would like to invite people to tour this park and introduce the unique constructions which reflected Inoue Enryo's religious thought. By examining his idea, which can be called "oriental deism," I will consider the unique characteristics of science, philosophy, and religion in nineteenth century Japan.

Organized panel, English
Okada, Masahiko

Tenri University, Japan

Modern Japanese Buddhism and Pan-Asianism(12M)

*chairperson

Organized panel
Okamitsu, Nobuko Catherine

Tohoku University, Japan

Social Welfare Activities by a Religious Organization and the Local Community --- The Case of the Naha Diocese, Okinawa, Japan(09F)

The Catholic Naha Diocese covers Okinawa prefecture, which was severely damaged during World War II. Soon after the War, the Catholic mission resumed on a full scale and contributed to the local community, particularly in the area of public welfare. In this paper, I examine the interaction between the Catholic mission and the local community, focusing on the welfare activities of the Naha Diocese. In 1947, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin sent two friars to Okinawa. They gave top priority not to evangelization, but to what was needed for the local people. They set up the Mission Tailor Shop and Mission Laundry for war widows, a polyclinic for the sick, and a school-lunch program and educational institutions for children. These activities gained appreciation from the local people, which contributed to the considerable increase in the number of converts. This is an instance of a successful interaction of the Church with the community.

Organized panel, Japanese
Okamura, Mayumi

Japan

Spirituality of Kenzaburo Oe's Literary(04W)

Kenzaburo Oe is a Japanese writer who won the Nobel Prize. He portrayed the tragic fate of a religious group commanded by a charisma leader in the novel, The Green Tree Blazing Up (Moeagaru Midori no Ki), written just before he received the award. Oe is not Christian. However, he has the strong concern about Christianity from his childhood. In, The Green Tree Blazing Up, he is utilizing the symbol of Christianity. Moreover, he has regarded the charismatic founder as the present-day Christ. I want to show clearly how Oe understands Christianity. I believe that the Christianity that he understands is not Christianity itself, but a Japanized Christianity.

Organized panel, English
Okazaki, Hoken

Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies, Japan

Nichiren's Concept of Salvation in Mappo(08L)

The Kamakura period was informed by an acute awareness of the age of mappo and the appearance of many priests who founded new schools. Among them, Nichiren was prominent for adopting the Honmon (Essential teaching) approach to the Lotus Sutra, in which he declared other schools to be provisional teachings and sought to plant the seeds of Myoho-Renge-Kyo in the lives of people through the practice of shakubuku. His practice was founded on doctrines particular to Nichiren, such as his interpretation of the teaching of planting, maturing, and harvesting the seed of enlightenment: he purported that what mattered for people's enlightenment was whether they had the seed of Buddhahood planted in them. Put plainly, the core of his concept of salvation in the age of mappo is to bring to fruition the seed of enlightenment in people.

Organized panel, Japanese
Okinaga, Takashi

Teikyo University, Japan

Why Does the Mystery of the Existence of I Arise?(07T)

The theme of this presentation is the question, "why am I?" One answer to it is that the premise of this question cannot be settled because the substantial ego does not exist. It asserts that when we reduce anything objective from ego, there remains nothing as ego itself. But on the contrary, what makes the existence of "this I" is "something" which is always slipping out from objectifying operation. We can imagine a world in which a person exists who has the same physical system with me and is not "this I." Thus the property of "this I," which is the center of the incomprehensibleness is the same thing with the property of that "something." Therefore, we will focus on this indefinable "I," and conclude that the "something" remains as the inexplicable, but in this region the characteristic of me will have been vanished.

Organized panel, Japanese
Okoshi, Tsubasa

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

Ritual as a Social Rule: A Comment on the Rabinal Achi(02R)

Rabinal Achi is a Mayan Indian's drama of prehispanic origin. The main theme of this work is the capture of the Quichean Prince, and his execution in front of the principal officials of the Rabinal village, among them their prince. The sacrifice of the Quichean Prince was a ritual according to their millenary prehispanic tradition, but before it, the two main actors of the drama held a long and in some sense tiresome conversation, which will be analyzed and discussed in this paper. In a critical and conflictive moment the Maya always recur to the social standard which is reinforced by their ancestral belief or religion. In the discourse of these two princes, it is possible to find out a social rule followed by them in a ritualistic sacrifice and also to understand the social and religious role of this Mayan drama.

Symposium, English
Okubo, Masayuki

Kurume University, Japan

On the Idea of Divinity in the Lotus Sutra with References to the Concepts of "Purusa" and "Dharma"(09V)

In the Lotus Sutra the idea of Godhead is seen as the relationship between the usage of words ofpurusa and dharma. The words "purusa" were found about 210 times in some contexts. Purusa is able to translate into English as cosmic consciousness or universal soul, an Original man and so on. The Classification of "purusa" in some contexts will be tried. What is the relationship between dharma and purusa? In my report, Sanskrit manuscripts of saddharmapundarika, compiled by institute for the comprehensive study of Lotus Sutra rissho university, and Lotus Sutra Manuscript Series 2-2, Sanskrit Lotus Sutra Manuscript from the National Archives Of Nepal (NO.4-21), Facsimile Edition and Romanized Text, edited by Hirofumi Toda, will be used.

Organized panel, Japanese
Okumura, Ichiro

Discalced Carmelite, Japan

Encountering Oneself – Buddhism and Christianity(07O)

True religious salvation lies not in material, scientific, or political salvation. Salvation rather lies in "an encounter with oneself," that is, in the process of a human being becoming a real human being in the depth of his/her soul. Especially Buddhism and Christianity are founded on this viewpoint. Here are some examples: 1.To learn the Buddhist way is to learn about oneself, it is to forget oneself. To forget oneself is to perceive oneself as all things. (Dogen: Shobogenzo, Genjokoan) 2. This standpoint is even stronger expressed in the Christian Gospel. Jesus told his disciples: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life for my sake will find out. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mt. 16:24-26)

Organized panel, Japanese
Okuyama, Michiaki

Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan

Rethinking Interreligious Dialogue: Challenges and Reorientations Session 1: From Conflict to Dialogue?(01G)

It is a sign of our times that increased conflict among religions around the world have stimulated an ever-growing chorus of voices calling for deeper self-examination and mutual understanding among religions traditionally at odds with one another. The same spirit of dialogue that seeks to relax tensions among organized religions and religious groups also enhances the lives of the individuals who take part in it, even as the refusal to dialogue closes one off from the riches that religious traditions have to offer each other. Our panel proposes to take a second look at the setting in which "interreligious dialogue" is being carried on in various countries around the world. Scholars from Asia, Europe, and the Americas engaged in research on dialogue will examine ways to promote a mutual exchange of experiences and expertise, and at the same time take a critical look at the failure of dialogue both on the individual and the organized levels of religion. The opening session will take the form of discussion under a title "From Conflict to Dialogue?" and the second session will focus on "Reconsidering Christianity."

Organized panel, English
Okuyama, Michiaki

Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan

Rethinking Interreligious Dialogue: Challenges and Reorientations (2) Reconsidering Christianity(02G)

It is a sign of our times that increased conflict among religions around the world have stimulated an ever-growing chorus of voices calling for deeper self-examination and mutual understanding among religions traditionally at odds with one another. The same spirit of dialogue that seeks to relax tensions among organized religions and religious groups also enhances the lives of the individuals who take part in it, even as the refusal to dialogue closes one off from the riches that religious traditions have to offer each other. Our panel proposes to take a second look at the setting in which "interreligious dialogue" is being carried on in various countries around the world. Scholars from Asia, Europe, and the Americas engaged in research on dialogue will examine ways to promote a mutual exchange of experiences and expertise, and at the same time take a critical look at the failure of dialogue both on the individual and the organized levels of religion. The opening session will take the form of discussion under a title "From Conflict to Dialogue?" and the second session will focus on "Reconsidering Christianity."

Organized panel, * Session Abstract, English
Okuyama, Michiaki

Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan

Religion and Contemporary Japanese Novelists(2)(05W)

*chairperson

Organized panel, English
Okuyama, Michiaki

Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan

Muslims and Human Rights in Europe(06W)

Muslim immigrants have settled in Western Europe in the last thirty years or so, and now there are over 15 million estimated Muslim inhabitants. The level of Muslim integration differs from one country to another, but with the development of the European Union, Islam in Europe is posing a common issue for Europe as a whole. Settling down in Western Europe has been a challenge to Muslims, because Islam is a minority religion that needs to accommodate itself in a new culture and society. The European cultures and societies, on the other hand, also face the challenge as to how they can admit to these new neighbors the same rights as the preceding citizens have enjoyed. Here we see a number of issues emerging regarding human rights for Muslims. In this panel scholars from Europe and Japan will address these issues from various angles.

Organized panel, * Session Abstract, English
Okuyama, Michiaki

Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan

A Critical Reappraisal of Religious Pluralism and of the Presence of Islam in the United States(13O)

Religious pluralism as it exists in the United States exemplifies the dynamic role that religion is playing in the shaping of society today. This is exemplified in a particular way by the ever more significant role that Muslims citizens in the United States are playing in areas of American life traditionally dominated by Christian values. Participants in research programs entitled "Religion in the United States" of the Fulbright American Studies Institute (2002-2004) reflected on the current religious situation in the United States, particularly as it was affected by the tragedy of September 11, 2002. The present session aims to continue that discussion by inviting scholars from three countries, all of them participants in the Fulbright programs, to share their critical evaluation of the current religious scene in the United States, to be followed by a discussion with a prominent U. S. scholar in the field.

Organized panel, English
Olajubu, Oyeronke

University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Gender and the Environment in Yoruba Religion: A Focus on Waterfalls(10L)

Africans often ascribe femininity to nature because they recognize the ability of nature to reproduce, regenerate and/or rejuvenate. Elements of nature are construed as feminine and worship is directed at them in such a way as to ensure that the sustenance offered by these elements to human beings continues. Water bodies are also seen as females. Such water bodies include streams, rivers, and waterfalls. Like other water bodies, waterfalls are conceived as females among the Yoruba and seen as being imbued with healing, prosperity and fecundity properties. The aim of this paper is to analyze the Yoruba gender construct as concerns the environment, and specifically waterfalls in Yorubaland. Attention will also be given to the role of Yoruba women in the preservation of the environment.

Organized panel, English
Olajubu, Oyeronke

University of Ilorin, Nigeria

(12L)

Roundtable session

O'Leary, Joseph Stephen

Sophia University, Japan

The Nonduality of Emptiness and Compassion in Mahayana Buddhism(11U)

The tension between the two pillars of Buddhism -- the wisdom of emptiness, on the one hand, and compassionate engagement with suffering creatures, on the other -- has been highlighted in recent studies by M. Maithrimurthi, L. Schmithausen, and E. Franco, and independently by L. Vievard. The nonduality of emptiness and compassion is by no means self-evident. Is it a dogma? -- an intellectual insight? -- an imperative of synthesis? -- a rule of practical equilibrium? -- a wishful ideological harmonization? I shall suggest that the effort to think wisdom and compassion together is an ongoing project within Buddhism, similar to the effort to think incarnationally within Christianity. It involves the deepest dialectic and paradoxes of the religion, which are lost in bland treatments that treat the collaboration of wisdom and compassion as mere common sense. The reception of this project today need not regard traditional solutions as definitive, but should re-activate the ancient tensions in order to prompt a contemporary retrieval of what underlay them.

Organized panel, English
Olson, Carl

Allegheny College, USA

Violence, Myth, and Bodily Fluids: A Case Study of the Hindu Goddess Lalita and Her Tantric Context(15S)

The major narrative about the Hindu goddess Lalita is given in the Brahmanda Purana. She is described as lovely, but she engages in violent actions against demonic beings, who are male chauvinist figures. The goddess not only defeats them, but she consumes their bodily fluids. This violent encounter is best grasped from within a Tantric perspective and the importance that it attaches to body fluids.

Organized panel, English
Olupona, Jacob

University of California, USA

Ritual, Environment and African Religion(10L)

This paper examines the complex relationship between environment and ritual in various indigenous religious traditions, cultures, and societies of Africa. The complexity of the relationship requires that we adopt a more multi-disciplinary approach that draws from a variety of sources, approaches, and epistemological positions. However, in my analysis, I shall privilege what I have often called indigenous hermeneutics, that is, a mode of interpretation that recognizes African imagination, sensitivity, and is concerned with the relationship between religion and nature. Based on this premise, I am guided by a variety of conceptual and theoretical frameworks. First, I am concerned with the environmental referentiality of ritual. Second, I am concerned with types of rituals and their contingency upon environmental variations. Third, and closely linked to the environmental variations, are the environmental imperatives in rituals, ranging from comprehension to control and appeasement of nature that are the raison d'etre of ritual practice and the essence of almost all aspects of African religions. Based on these three related concepts, I propose that rituals and the cycles of nature are so intricately related. That it may not be out of place to speak of the ritualization of the environment to describe this intricate relationship in African cosmology and religion.

Organized panel
Omer, Musa Mohamed Saeed

Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to Japan, Sudan

Islam in the Sudan(03H)

The Sudanese reflect a preference for a genial, non-rigorous Islam, more in keeping with Sudanese special experience within the flow of Islamic history. That Islam spread peacefully by holy men, often adherents of Sufi orders. These holy men were usually granted land and exemption from taxes and other dues. There are two areas in which Sudan's latest model differs from mainstream Islamists. One is the Sudanese Islamists "explicit acceptance of liberal democracy as the appropriate form of political organization for Sudan. The Islamist movements customarily place stress on the need for shura (consultation)." Secondly, the Sudanese model with regard to women is "qualitatively different from that proposed in most Islamist programs. The emphasis is on women escaping from social oppression and playing a full part in building the new society, rather than on their primary duty lying within the family". What would an Islamic Government mean? The model is very clear; the scope of government is limited. I will argue that law is not the only agent of social control, and that moral norms and individual conscience are equally important.

Organized panel
Omoto, Kumi

Taisho University, Japan

Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements in Contemporary Japan(03W)

Pentecostal and charismatic movements constitute a conspicuous phenomenon within contemporary Christianity. Two of the main characteristics of these movements are their acknowledgment of spiritual experiences, e.g. baptism in the Holy Spirit, glossolalia, divine healing, and their simultaneous and supra-sectarian spread in all parts of the world. Ever since the first Pentecostal missionary set foot on Japanese soil at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Pentecostal belief has been actively passed over within the country while receiving influence from abroad. However, in spite of its significant history, the theme of Japanese Pentecostal and charismatic movements has only enjoyed minor attention as a subject of scholarly research in religious and Christian studies. In this presentation I will survey the developments of the said movements in Japan and will describe the aspects of their present situation. Furthermore, I will touch upon the status questionis in Japanese research of Pentecostal and charismatic movements.

Organized panel, English