Religion 281a

 Japanese Buddhism In the Contemporary World

Jamie Hubbard

Seelye 303, x3449

For many years sociologists predicted that religion would slowly fade into the background of myth and legend as modern, industrialized societies grew increasingly rational and secular. In spite of all sociological theory, the modern, rational, industrial, and technologically advanced twentieth century has become more, not less, enchanted with religion. This is nowhere more true than in fast-paced and ultra-sophisticated Japan. Hundreds and hundreds of new religious movements abound side-by-side with the ancient and traditional, and in the daily news religion figures (almost) as regularly as the economy. In this course we will examine aspects of Japanese religious life in the context of contemporary society, including the impact of European thought, Buddhist nationalism, the export of Zen and the import of Christianity, contemporary monasticism, the Kyoto school of philosophy, and Buddhist aesthetics; particular attention will be given to examining institutional reform within traditional Buddhism and the emergence of new religious movements. 

Goals:

By the end of the semester I expect that you will be able to:

·        Identify perennial themes or paradigms of Japanese religious thought and practice and describe how individual thinkers and religious practitioners have adapted them to modern times.

·        Describe Buddhism and Shinto in terms of institutional continuity and change, tradition and reform; place the emergence of new religious movements in Japan into this context of continuity and change.

·        Analyze Japanese religious thought in terms of cultural and political ideologies, and explain the rhetoric of Japanese uniqueness (日本人論) in this connection; describe how Zen, the Yasukuni Shrine, the emperor, and other religious institutions have been used to support various social and cultural ideologies

·        Travel to Japan and not be surprised by the religious life of your friends in Tokyo.

Strategies for accomplishing our goals:

·        Field trips:

o       Sunday, October 7: Peace Pagoda

o       Saturday, October 20: Northampton Shin Sangha at 7:30 pm.

o       Saturday-Sunday, November 3-4 (overnight): Valley Zendo

Attendance is mandatory.

·        Create an interactive web space: We will use CourseInfo Blackboard as the central gathering place for our work. At present there is little more available than the syllabus. As we continue through the course we will augment the syllabus with additional readings, links, images, sound and video, gradually building an interactive space for learning about religion contemporary Japan. Much, but hopefully not all, of the additional material will come from your other assignments for the course; more detailed instructions will be given in class.

·        Extend the syllabus: two group projects that extend the syllabus by adding a new topic (that is, readings and other materials for a single class organized around a particular topic) or substantially revising an existing topic. They will include readings, web links, photos, music, etc. and will be added to our web site and presented in class; together these projects will count for 40% of your grade.

·        Reviews: short (1-2 pages) reviews of a relevant article, book, movie, art exhibit, etc.  No more than three may be from material already used in class or for your group projects. If you wish to receive an “A” for the course, you must complete at least eight reviews; six for a “B,” and four for a “C.” OPTION: students who wish may, with the permission of the instructor, substitute a 15-20 page research paper in place of the reviews. If you choose to write a paper you must see me sometime before October 1. The reviews (or paper) will count 40% of your grade.

·        Attendance and participation: regular attendance and prepared participation is expected and will count for 20% of your final grade. In order to facilitate our discussions you are required to make a list from your readings of five terms, questions, nifty quotes, dubious claims and the like that you want to ask or talk about in class; these will be collected at the end of each class period. Participation also includes your active help in building our interactive web site—suggesting links, adding images, etc.

Required Texts:

Reader, Ian.                             Religion in Contemporary Japan.

Mullins and Swanson, eds.            Religion and Society in Modern Japan

Coursepack available at Paradise Copies.