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

Yamaguchi, Nobue

St.Mary's Junior College, Japan

The Symbolization of Archives Becoming "Sacred Things"-A Case Study of Miyaza of Komiya Hachiman Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture-(08U)

The purpose of this paper is to consider the phenomenon in which archives become "sacred things." In my paper I discuss how a certain miyaza(an organization for worshiping a shrine) inherited archives. The archives are mainly the recording of membership in an attendance book. Worship is done daily to these archives and to touch and to look at these archives is prohibited. On the day of the miyaza festival, attendees' names are written in the archives. The boxes in which the archives are held are handed to the new zamoto (the headman who presides over miyaza) as the symbol of miyaza. Miyaza's members can confirm that they are members in the village, and recognize themselves as descendants of their ancestors by the same name which were originally written in the archives. Archives are maintained by the existence of this miyaza. On the other hand, a factor in miyaza's maintenance is the existence of the archives. The existence of the archives becomes the psychological authority of miyaza members.

Organized panel, Japanese
Yamajo, Hirotsugu

Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan

Faith and the Earthly Life: the Notion of Happiness in Pascal and Montaigne(01D)

In the fragment called "The Bet" found in Pensees, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), having calculated the profits of the two possibilities of the existence or the non-existence of God, concludes that the former choice is the better bet. If one wins, one will gain an "eternal and infinitely happy life." Yet, does this player, who is therefore also a believer, also acquire happiness during his earthly life? And if this is the case, what kind of happy existence does he gain? For Pascal, wealth, health, and power, having their source in the physical order, never constitute a veritable good. Such a radical rejection of earthly happiness is absent in Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), who maintained his faith while also acknowledging this-worldly pleasures. What is the origin of the difference in their attitudes? Through the examination of their ideas about happiness, I want to elucidate the relationship between faith and this-worldly happiness.

Symposium, Japanese
Yamaki, Kazuhiko

Waseda University, Japan

A Theory of Toleration Based on An Analogy between Religion and Language(04N)

In this paper we chiefly direct our attention to the theory of toleration by Richard Hooker (c. 1554-1600). In Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity (3, 2, 1), he writes as follows: "But we must note, that he which affirmeth speech to be necessary among all men throughout the world, doth not thereby import that all men must necessarily speak one kind of language. Even so the necessity of polity and regiment in all Churches may be held without holding any one certain form to be necessary in them all." We have found Nicholas of Cusa as a herald and both Pierre Bayle and Voltaire as successors of this theory. We think that the worth of this theory is increasing now again, when the crash of civilizations is often spoken in the world.

Organized panel, English
Yamamura, Honryu

Rissho University, Japan

Study on' Nichiren Sect Religious Debates (Focusing on Ketsumaku-Myogenron)(07R)

1. What is "Ketsumakumyogenron"? Volume 4 of this book was authored by Ryogi Nichidatsu (1674-1747) of Nichiren sect and was published in Kyoho 21 (1736). This book was a counterargument against Volume 1 of "Kongo Tsuiron" written by Hotan Soshun (1854-1738) of Kegon sect published in Kyoho 19 (1734). Therefore, it is presumed that Ryogi Nichidatsu established a school between Kyoho 19 and 21. Ryogi Nichidatsu was a learned priest and a teacher representing Nichiren sect of the min-Edo era. He succeeded the high priest position of Honkoku-ji temple of Nichiren sect in Kyoto and became the 26th high priest. He also held consecutively the high priest position of temples in Takagamine, Rokujyo, and Nakamura. It has been told that approximately 70 people came to him to become Nichidatsu's immediate pupils, Nichidatsu authored more than 50 books that are more than 120 volumes. On the other hand, Hotan Soshun was also a learned priest and a teacher representing Kegon sect of mid-Edo era. From his early years, he actively listened to lectures by prominent teachers in Kyoto-Osaka area, and during this time, polished and deepened his understanding on doctrines of various denominations. As a result, he contributed to the restoration of Kegon sect which, had been in decline at that time. Hotan Soshun authored more than 100 volumes of books including enormous numbers of writings on religious debates. He spent most of his lifetime debating with scholars and polemicists of other denominations.

Organized panel, Japanese
Yamanaka, Hiroshi

University of Tsukuba, Japan

The Religious Dimension in Japanese Popular Culture(02H)

The object of this panel is to discuss the religious dimension in Japanese popular culture, dealing with anime, films, music, and comics. As is well known, Japanese popular culture has become quite popular throughout the world. Instead of traditional Japanese cultural icons like Kabuki which were regarded as being typical of Japanese culture, a new type of popular culture, such as anime or karaoke has lately drawn attention from overseas. However, little attention has been focused on the religious dimension of Japanese popular culture. It seems very important for us to pay attention to this dimension, for it is said that forms of religion in advanced industrial society have changed and diffused into various other realms that as yet have had nothing do with religion. In this panel, we'd like to consider how religious forms have changed in Japanese society, focusing on the religious dimension appearing in anime, films, music, and comics.

Organized panel, * Session Abstract
Yamanaka, Hiroshi

University of Tsukuba, Japan

Robots and Religiosity in Japanese Animation(02H)

My aim in this paper is to show the religious dimension underlying Japanese animation dealing with robots, focusing on the relationship between human beings and robots. If we remember Spirited Away or My Neighbor Totoro, it seems easy for us to associate Hayao Miyazaki's animation with animistic beliefs prevalent in Japanese traditional religion. In contrast to Miyazaki's anime, Katsuhiro Otomo, Mamoru Oshi, and Hideaki Anno, all important animation film directors in Japan, appears to be in favor of depicting robots or cyborgs in technologically advanced societies. I would say their works, in which robots play a leading part, may have a hidden religious dimension. My attention here shall be focused on the way in which they depict the relationship between human beings and the robots. By considering this issue, we may be able to find a clue to help us understand the religious dimension in contemporary Japanese animation.

Organized panel, English
Yamanaka, Hiroshi

University of Tsukuba, Japan

Various Forms of Spirituality in the World (2)(05B)

*respondent

Symposium
Yamanaka, Shugo

Tenri University, Japan

Religion and Children: The Acceptance and Development of Faith(05L)

Drawing on such theories as James W. Fowler's Faith Development Theory, I will examine the process in which children, born and raised in a family dedicated to a particular religion, come to embrace and progressively develop that faith. The contrary case, in which children come to rebel against and gradually distance themselves from that faith will be likewise considered. Giving special attention to Tenrikyo, whose teachings emphasize the "parent-child transmission of faith," I will explore various factors that affect the acceptance or the rejection of the parental faith by children born into Tenrikyo families.

Organized panel, English
Yamanashi, Yukiko

Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture, Japan

A Paradigm Shift in Interreligious Dialogue: Source of Understanding? Means of Peace?(16O)

The purpose of this presentation is to consider a paradigm shift in dialogue among religions. In this regard, "publicity" and "tolerance" are key words. Over the last few decades, a large number of studies have been made on the interreligious dialogue. What seems to be lacking, however, is to consider the very heart of the problem: the conflict between religious values which resort to any means for religious conviction in some cases, and secular values which respect the human rights and democracy above all else. Given this perspective, would you say simply that interreligious dialogue brings peace to world? Now, I would say we are in need of a new paradigm in the field of interreligious dialogue.

Organized panel, English
Yamaori, Tetsuo

International Research Center for Japanese Studies, Japan

"Survival Strategy" and "Impermanence Strategy"(05A)

If ever a terrible natural disaster such as the Great Flood depicted in the Old Testament would take place on earth, what would we do? There are, at least, two possible choices. One is to build a boat such as Noah's Ark, and survive the crisis. I would like to call it human species' Survival Strategy. Another is to accept the fate that I am among the fellow humans who will mostly die in the great flood. It is a positive and subjective choice to accept that there is nothing eternal, and all things with form will expire. I would like to call it "Impermanence Strategy." I suppose that it is "Science/Technology" which enables the former Survival Strategy, while it is "Religious" belief system which enables the latter Impermanence Strategy. The question we face now is to keep a balanced relationship between the two, and apply it to the forthcoming difficult future.

Organized panel
Yamashita, Akiko

(08N)

Roundtable session, Japanese

Yamashita, Hiroshi

Tohoku University, Japan

'Mission' as Organizing Category(09I)

*chairperson

Organized panel
Yamashita, Hiroshi

Tohoku University, Japan

Catholic Mission and Inculturation in Late Medieval South India with Special Reference to the Literary Activities of the Jesuit Old Madurai Mission in Tamilnadu(09I)

The Early Jesuit Mission in southern India, also called Old Madurai Mission, started in the early seventeenth century and covered the major areas of the present State of Tamilnadu. In undertaking proselytization activities, the missionaries employed the method of "inculturation," which stand in sharp contrast to the methods employed by St. Francis Xavier. Their approach that compromised greatly with indigenous cultural traditions to attain large numbers of converts among the local population created long-standing disputes and controversies over the method of mission with the headquarters of the Catholic Church. In this paper, I trace the cultural achievements of the Jesuits of the Madurai Mission, focusing on the literary activities in vernacular languages conducted by Roberto de Nobili, Giuseppe Beschi, and others. One of my aims is to re-evaluate and redefine the historical role of Christian missionaries by assessing their religio-cultural contributions to southern India at the dawn of the modern age.

Organized panel, Japanese
Yamauchi, Makoto

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan

La Profondeur du Mal et le Pardon - avec la Réflexion de Jean Nabert(07Q)

Le fait d'avoir commis le mal ne se borne pas à déterminer la qualité d'un acte. Il torture notre être total comme une souffrance. La difficulté de délivrer l'homme de son péché consiste en cette coïncidence étrange du commettre et du souffrir. Un oubli peut-il devenir sauveur? Mais, séparer un événement passé de son propre destin, ce n'est qu'entasser tromperie sur tromperie. Jean Nabert approfondit ce caractère étrange de l'expérience du mal pour découvrir la relation inséparable entre l' ipséité et la culpabilité de l'homme ; Nabert touche ainsi une profondeur du mal intime de l'homme. Cependant, n'est-il pas possible de parler d'un véritable sauveur seulement par cette descente sans réserve jusqu'à la profondeur, même s'il doit demeurer si haut que sa manifestation historique est difficile à espérer?

Symposium, Japanese
Yamawaki, Naoshi

University of Tokyo, Japan

Public Philosophy and Dialogue between Religions(16O)

This presentation aims at considering what impacts the public philosophy can make on the dialogue between religions. The public philosophy challenges different religions to take the public responsibility of overcoming the global crisis of humankind in the 21st century. Therefore, each religion is required to cooperate with each other in order to realize global public goods such as peace or well-being which each religion can share in spite of the differences of content of faith or dogma. The dialogue between religions should be now reoriented to finding out universal values in different religions and transforming them into practical energy to co-generate the public world in which humankind co-exist peacefully.

Organized panel, English
Yamazaki, Hiroko

Bunkyo University, Japan

St. Anselm's View of Peace(06N)

From the Christian perspective peace and love(charity) are inseparable. Anselm of Canterbury(1033-1109) can be mentioned as one of the people who has such a viewpoint. He thinks of God as "the one who makes peace and creates evil " ( Is. 45. 7 ). Evil in this case is created to purify the just and to punish the unjust. The evil created not by God but committed by a individual is against "the rule of charity (regula caritatis) ". He argues that God creates evil in order to make the act follow this rule. This law covers not only the doer but also the recipient. Consequently if a recipient suffers evil by another person's act, it is against the rule of charity. From St. Anselm's way of thinking peace is brought about by following this rule and when we live without such a law, peace is broken.

Organized panel, English
Yanagisawa, Saeko

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico

Body Fragments in Mesoamerican Ritual(03I)

In Mesoamerican pictographic tradition the heart glyph and the blood glyph are represented by means of specific and particular schematic forms. This paper will examine the similarities between, on the one hand, the Teotihuacan and Mixteca-Puebla traditions, and representation the occidental world, on the other. First, I will show how the meaning of the blood glyph and the water glyph, and those of the heart and the flower glyph, in prehispanic thought fused and overlapped. Second, I will demonstrate that if these symbolic relationships are not considered and if we continue to misread violent practices, we will be incapable of fully understanding the function of the exposition of fragments of the human body in Mesoamerican ritual.

Organized panel, Japanese
Yang, Eun-Yong

Wonkwang University, Korea

Thought of Three Major Religions in Modern Korea: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism(07D)

Modern Korean society is confronted with a time of great reformation, which has a profound effect on Korean thinking. We may divide trends in modern Korean thinking according to three categories: Traditional ways of thinking; Western thinking, and Thoughts of New Religions. There are three major religions, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, that are important for traditional thinking. These three religions have influenced also the New Korean religious movements such as the Buddhist reformation movement, the Confucian teaching movement, and the civil Taoist movement. For this reason, the synthetic harmony among the three religions is considered as one of main components within new Korean religions.

Symposium, Japanese
Yang, Fenggang

Purdue University, USA

Chinese Christians and Churches in the United States(01B)

In this presentation I will address some of the following questions: How do Chinese churches in America relate to each other, and to other Christian churches, denominations, parachurch organizations, and associations? Are Chinese churches moving from the immigrant through the ethnic on to the multiethnic stages, like earlier European immigrant churches did? I will argue that independence and integration are not exclusive, but actually coexist. Although Chinese Protestant churches tend to be nondenominational, they are integrated with the broader American Christian community through seminaries, parachurch organizations, and college-campus ministries. Chinese Christians tend to be conservative in their theological orientation, carefully following mainstream evangelical theologies. On the other hand, however, some distinctly Chinese theologies are emerging, which are challenging Chinese evangelical Christians to broaden up their theological understanding. Globalization is a major contextual factor affecting the dynamics of independence and integration.

Organized panel, English
Yang, Heriyanto

Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia

State-Recognized and Non-State-Recognized Religions: The Case of Confucianism in Indonesia in Historical, Political, and Legal Perspectives(05G)

For a time (I.e. three decades), Confucianism and its followers in Indonesia were persecuted by the state. A discourse on the existence of Confucianism in Indonesia is fully part of the debate within the Chinese community in the country. It is also an integral part of issues and problems arising from the state's policy concerning the relationship between state and religion. It serves as an example of how, in Indonesia, power and vested interest invariably prevail over law enforcement. This paper will therefore frame its discussion on the existence of Confucianism in Indonesia within the three above-mentioned contexts by approaching it with historical, political, and legal perspectives; and finally come to a conclusion. The period examined covers the dawn of the 20th century up to the present.

Organized panel, English
Yang, Hong

Nagoya University, Japan

Changing Shamanism under Chinese Policy(07F)

Changing Shamanism of Manchu under Chinese religious policy-Over "jia ji" and "ye ji." The traditional religion of Manchu is shamanism. The characteristics of shamanism in Manchu are "jia ji" and "ye ji." "Jia ji" is a ritual in which ancestor gods of the family is deified. "Ye ji" is the ritual that a shaman associates with the natural gods. "Jia ji" and "ye ji" are controlled by Chinese religious policy. This presentation aims to report some observations and analyses about the process of the transfiguration of the shamanism of Manchu under Chinese religious policy.

Organized panel, Japanese
Yang, Huilin

Chinese Peoples' University, China

The Publics of Theology and the Humanist's Theological Concern(01N)

Christian theology has been studied and researched within China's academic circles, but largely in an adjunct capacity. Obviously this is in part because theology has yet to be accepted as an independent field within the academic structure of China. But it may also be true that there is a significant difference between the theological language of the church and the academic context. In both cases, we face the issue of theology's publics or publicness. Simply put, exploring the issue can help us (1) to understand the reason for theology's relegation to an adjunct position, and (2) how theology can move from the confines of the church into the larger society and establish its relevance. Only as these two aspects of theology's publics or publicness are understood, can the "faith community" of the Christian Church realize its potential as a "community of discourse".

Organized panel, English
Yano, Hidetake

University of Tokyo, Japan

The Reshaping of Tradition in Thai Theravada Buddhism(01H)

This presentation focuses on the topic of how local religious traditions have been reshaped in global society, taking up the case of the Thammakai (Dhammakaya) Temple / Foundation (Theravada Buddhism) as a concrete example of this phenomenon. The Thammakai has grown into a large religious organization in contemporary Thailand, and its activities include the practice of meditation based on a unique philosophy, belief in the world after death, belief in reincarnation, the active utilization of the mass media, and the performance of spectacular rituals. The conventional accounts of this movement either argue that it represents an example of the emergence of modern individualism and consumerism in a religious setting, or explain it as an attempt to return to traditional thinking. However, both approaches, in my view, give only insufficient analyses of the Thammakai. In this presentation, I want to propose the theory that this form of religious practice and organization constitutes an attempt by urban dwellers of higher educational backgrounds to construct a new self-image and create a new set of social relations that can overcome the inconsistencies existing between contemporary consumer society and traditional Buddhist public morality.

Organized panel, English
Yao, Yushuang

Fo-Guang College of Humanity and Social Science, Taiwan

The Appeal and Development of Religious Movement in Contemporary Taiwan(13I)

Appeal is an under-explored topic that is often approached from a functional perspective and dealt with in terms of essential understandings linked with positive feelings to a religious movement. It is commonly seen as an attribute of an organisation or as being predetermined by social structure and the alterations in it. Thus what is "offered" or "provided" by a new religious movement (NRM) is often described as its appeal (Wilson 1992: 206). The paper look at appeal from the perspective of the participants, taking their own claims about what they see as appealing about the Movement, claims that are derived from their own experience and practice. This is an important source for developing an understanding of the nature of appeal, and of the reasons why people feel that they should convert into a new religion. This subjective practice-oriented approach will avoid privileging explanations based on academic perceptions of needs resulting from uncertainty stemming from social shifts (Heelas 1997: 135-152) and will help refine relative deprivation theory which explains the development of sectarianism (Stark and Bainbridge 1985: 307-8; Puttick 1997: 25-7).

Organized panel
Yasui, Takeshi

Shokei Gakuin College, Japan

Spiritual Care and the Rights of the Terminally Ill in Japan: Perspectives from Buddhism and Christianity(15J)

The WHO (1990) has contributed to a growing awareness that the dying have the right to receive spiritual care within the system of palliative care. Although the Japanese government has maintained a neutral position with regards to this recommendation, some Christian and Buddhist communities have adapted it to accommodate the Japanese worldview. Spiritual caregivers should not only counsel Christians and Buddhists, but also treat nonbelievers without any prejudice at all. The question then arises: what aspects of a caregiver's spirituality allow success in such an undertaking? The tradition of the German Protestant mystics, such as Weigel, Arnold, Angelus silesius, and Tersteegen, Katsumi Takizawa (1909-1984) offers us clues on how to deal with this important question. It is hoped that the suggestions on spiritual care in this presentation will benefit all sectors of Japanese society.

Organized panel, English