The Category of 'Religion' in Contemporary Japan

Provides an intervention and provocation to sociologists who apply the term 'religion' to countries and cultures such as Japan Covers historical, cultural and sociological issues Avoids previously essentialist and Eurocentric projections of the concept of religion

Autorentext

Mitsutoshi Horii is Professor, Shumei University, Japan and Shumei Representative, Chaucer College, UK.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. A 'Critical Religion' Approach to Japanese 'Religion(s)'.- 3. Critical Reflections on the Category 'Religion' in Japan. - 4. 'Religion' in the Popular Discourse. - 5. Temple Buddhism and the Japanese Social Classification: A Brief Historical Overview. - 6. The Construction of Shkyka. - 7. Life Stories and Identities of Nichiren-sh priests. - 8. Negotiating with 'Shky' in the Context of the 'Religious Corporation'. - 9. Conclusion.