Nonchurch Movement
Encyclopedia
The Nonchurch movement is an indigenous Japanese Christian
movement which was founded by Uchimura Kanzo
in 1901. The complete works of Uchimura consist of some 50 volumes: 17 primarily biblical studies, 25 volumes of theological works and 8 volumes of diaries and correspondence. Many of his disciples have likewise been well-known intellectual figures. Today it is believed that 35,000 people belong to the movement in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
, the Nonchurch movement took several organizational forms. His direct disciples were essentially paying members of his private school. As subscribers to his magazine grew, supporters outside Tokyo
sought some ongoing relationship with other Nonchurch members. Uchimura organized the Kyōyukai (教友会, or literally, "Meeting of Friends in Faith") in 1905, with 14 branches and 119 members. The purpose of this organization was defined in the following profession of faith:
Membership was restricted to individuals who had "endeavored to live the Christian life for at least a year". The guidelines for this association included a commitment to meet monthly, to spend Sunday nurturing faith
and morals, and to abstain from tobacco
and liquor.
They hold to no liturgy
, sacrament
s, or ordained clergy
. While most of the teachers have no formal theological training, some have extensive background in theology and biblical studies and hold academic positions in universities and theological schools. Bible study is performed in small, independent groups led by individual teachers, or "sensei
", and the group often meet on a weekly basis. Each group is normally called shukai (Meeting) or seisho shukai (Bible Meeting). While many sensei hold regular jobs outside of their role as a Bible teacher, a few are called into a full-time ministry as dokuritsu dendosha (independent evangelist
s). When the teacher dies or retires, the study group normally dissolves, and often new groups branch out from the old group.
With its emphases on Bible studies and social criticism and its general intellectual tendencies among the adherents, the movement produced a number of prominent figures in scholarship. Among them are: Tsukamoto Toraji (biblical scholar), Yanaihara Tadao (economist and president of the University of Tokyo
), Nanbara Shigeru (political scientist and also president of the University of Tokyo
), Oga Ichiro (botanist), Sekine Masao (Hebrew scholar and Member of the Japan Academy), Nakazawa Koki (biblical scholar), and Takahashi Saburo (theologian and independent evangelist).
In Japan, the Mukyōkai members are perhaps best known for speaking out against social injustices. They were one of the groups to take positions against Japanese nationalism
and militarism
in the 1930s and '40s, and remain today strong advocates for pacifism
. In the USA the group is often mentioned in relation to human rights
activist Gordon Hirabayashi
, a practicing Quaker who was born into a Mukyōkai family and immigrated to the United States.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
movement which was founded by Uchimura Kanzo
Uchimura Kanzo
was a Japanese author, Christian evangelist, and the founder of the Nonchurch Movement of Christianity in the Meiji and Taishō period Japan.-Early life:...
in 1901. The complete works of Uchimura consist of some 50 volumes: 17 primarily biblical studies, 25 volumes of theological works and 8 volumes of diaries and correspondence. Many of his disciples have likewise been well-known intellectual figures. Today it is believed that 35,000 people belong to the movement in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea.
About
During the lifetime of Uchimura Kanzo, a graduate of Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
, the Nonchurch movement took several organizational forms. His direct disciples were essentially paying members of his private school. As subscribers to his magazine grew, supporters outside Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
sought some ongoing relationship with other Nonchurch members. Uchimura organized the Kyōyukai (教友会, or literally, "Meeting of Friends in Faith") in 1905, with 14 branches and 119 members. The purpose of this organization was defined in the following profession of faith:
We who believe in God and his Only Son whom he sent (into the world), uniting together, form the Kyōyukai. With the help of God the Father we shall help our comrades and live lives that are in harmony with His Sovereign Will.
Membership was restricted to individuals who had "endeavored to live the Christian life for at least a year". The guidelines for this association included a commitment to meet monthly, to spend Sunday nurturing faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
and morals, and to abstain from tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and liquor.
They hold to no liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
, sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
s, or ordained clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
. While most of the teachers have no formal theological training, some have extensive background in theology and biblical studies and hold academic positions in universities and theological schools. Bible study is performed in small, independent groups led by individual teachers, or "sensei
Sensei
' is a Japanese word that basically means "person born before another." In general usage, it means "master" or "teacher," and the word is used as a title to refer to or address teachers, professors, professionals such as lawyers, CPA and doctors, politicians, clergymen, and other figures of authority...
", and the group often meet on a weekly basis. Each group is normally called shukai (Meeting) or seisho shukai (Bible Meeting). While many sensei hold regular jobs outside of their role as a Bible teacher, a few are called into a full-time ministry as dokuritsu dendosha (independent evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
s). When the teacher dies or retires, the study group normally dissolves, and often new groups branch out from the old group.
With its emphases on Bible studies and social criticism and its general intellectual tendencies among the adherents, the movement produced a number of prominent figures in scholarship. Among them are: Tsukamoto Toraji (biblical scholar), Yanaihara Tadao (economist and president of the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
), Nanbara Shigeru (political scientist and also president of the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
), Oga Ichiro (botanist), Sekine Masao (Hebrew scholar and Member of the Japan Academy), Nakazawa Koki (biblical scholar), and Takahashi Saburo (theologian and independent evangelist).
In Japan, the Mukyōkai members are perhaps best known for speaking out against social injustices. They were one of the groups to take positions against Japanese nationalism
Japanese nationalism
encompasses a broad range of ideas and sentiments harbored by the Japanese people over the last two centuries regarding their native country, its cultural nature, political form and historical destiny...
and militarism
Militarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
in the 1930s and '40s, and remain today strong advocates for pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
. In the USA the group is often mentioned in relation to human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist Gordon Hirabayashi
Gordon Hirabayashi
Gordon Kiyoshi Hirabayashi is an American sociologist , best known for his principled resistance to the Japanese American internment during World War II, and the court case which bears his name, Hirabayashi v. United States.-Biography:Hirabayashi was born in Seattle to a Christian family who were...
, a practicing Quaker who was born into a Mukyōkai family and immigrated to the United States.
People of the nonchurch movement
- Tadao YanaiharaTadao Yanaiharawas a Japanese economist, educator and Christian pacifist. The first director of Shakai Kagaku Kenkyűjo at the University of Tokyo., studied at Toynbee Hall and School of Economics and Political Science .Born in Ehime Prefecture, Yanaihara became a Christian under the influence of Uchimura Kanzō's...
- Masato Koizumi
- Masao Sekine
- Ichiro Ohga
External links
- Asahi article on Mukyokai.
- Scholarly article mentioning Mukyokai.
See also
- ShinshūkyōShinshukyois a Japanese term used to describe domestic new religious movements. They are also known as in Japanese, and are most often called simply Japanese new religions in English. Japanese theologians classify all religious organizations founded since the middle of the 19th century as Shinshūkyō. Thus,...
- (Japanese new religions) - The Way (church)The Way (church)The Way is an indigenous Japanese "church" movement that was founded by Matsumura Kaiseki in 1907. Matsumura originally called his movement the One Heart Association, but in 1907 renamed it the Church of Japan and rented quarters to hold regular meetings...
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