Ever wondered what it would be like if the Church of Scientology controlled the third-largest political party in the British Parliament?
In its modern form, Soka Gakkai is (cough) an apolitical, (wheeze) peace-loving religious organization that most definitely has not bought its way into the heart of the occasional media outlet.*
Unofficially, its members are expected to make "donations," "special donations," and "helpful financial support" to the Komeito Party, to put up posters of Komeito politicians outside their homes and businesses, and to vote for said politicians in any election that comes up.
Unofficially, it preaches a message to its followers that includes heartwarming nuggets of spirituality such as:
- Taking over Japan and founding a Soka Republic
- Anti-Nichiren sentiments (another sect of Buddhism, which SG claims/claimed to be an offshoot of)
- Support for a fully-armed and militarily-active nation
Unofficially, Soka Gakkai bullies its critics into leaving them alone, or worse.
Given the significant influence the organization has in both politics and Japanese society as a whole, Komeito and Soka Gakkai likely aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
*That journalist, not necessarily that publication.
Neutrality, Humanity
Some friends and I went to Hiroshima a few weekends ago, taking special care to visit the Genbaku (A-Bomb) Dome, Peace Park, and A-Bomb Museum.
As we entered the museum, I half-expected either a guilt trip or a cold, academic experience, but instead was surprised to find that whoever wrote the placards, captions, and displays had instead made it a point to give voice to all viewpoints on the war, as well as the events leading up to and following the detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.
As the museum tells the story: Japan waged a brutal war of aggression on the rest of Asia, essentially mortgaging its people's future in the process. The United States targeted a major population center, taking a keen interest in its aftereffects and potential for further use. The Enola Gay dropped the bomb, and all the world became a much worse place for it.
Grief neither speaks a language nor hangs a flag.
1 comment:
So what does Soka Gakkai have to say about Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
So what happened to objectivity, or at least an explanation behind your biases here? Did you have a bad Soka Gakkai experience? Are you concerned about the religion/politics connection? Are you concerned about any group numbering in the millions using religious doctrine as dogma in an attempt to reach their own version of paradise/heaven/nirvana?
I think it is appropriate to question a group that dismisses separation of church and state and that you have some interesting links. An anthropological approach would have attempted at least from the beginning a more balanced approach. If in the end there is no balance... that is another story.
Personally I know a lot of SG members - some are cool, some aren't. I wouldn't mind hanging out with Tina Turner. All religions have the potential to be beautiful, it is how certain humans use the religion that is cause for pause...
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