Turning Points of the Church in Modern Japanese History ( Nihon Kindaishi ni Miru Kyohkai no Bunkiten )
Edited from presentations commemorating Korean pastor Chu Ki-chol, known for his martyrdom for refusing to worship at Shinto shrines during WW2. The book briefly summarizes pre-Meiji church history and then begins an in-depth coverage of church history from the Meiji-era opening of Japan to Protestant missionaries to World War 2 and after to today. The focus is on the choices the Christian leaders made regarding response to the authoritarianism of the governments and the forces of militant nationalism in the culture of the period. When recruited for the nationalist cause, most church leaders saw it as finally legitimizing Christianity and capitulated to Shinto shrine and emperor worship which they claimed were culture and not religion. A few opposed and some Holiness pastors were imprisoned along with communists, and some died in prison. After the war some individuals repented of their actions, but church representatives did not repent of their compromise. Because of the new constitution the churches have enjoyed freedom. A5 size, 224 pp.
| Issued date: | 2016/02/17 |
| ISBN: | 978-4-264-03470-4 |
| code: | 8690 |
| Price: | ¥2,200(tax included) |