Japan Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies 2018 Annual Meeting

The 2018 annual conference of the Japan Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies was held between August 5 and 7 at the Palace Side Hotel, Kyoto. Five presentations were given on the theme of "Eastern and Western Understanding of Nature in Terms of Environment, Life, and Ethics." This year, the conference invited scholars of Shinto and Islam.

Presentations:

August 5, 2018

"A Buddhist's Agreement and Some Questions Concerning Laudato Si'—De Communi Domo Colenda" by Shōten Minegishi, Chōrakuji Temple. (commentator: Yutaka Tanaka)

A Sōtō Zen priest, Minegishi respects the progressive nature of Laudato Si' and discussed that further discernment is needed about difference between Christian understanding of the distinction between the self and the nature and a Buddhist understanding of the self and the nature as interdependent co-arising.

"The Islamic View on God and Nature" by Kō Nakata, Dōshisha University. (commentator: Yoshio Tsuruoka)

This was the first attempt by the Japan Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies to invite a Muslim scholar. We learned the Islamic understanding of God, human, and nature. The resulting impression was that, more than we thought, Islam has a very inclusive nature.

August 6, 2018

"The Opening for Encounter beyond Dialogue" by Katsuyuki Takahashi, Nanzan Research Institute. (commentator: Manabu Watanabe)

This presentation discussed why true encounter between Buddhism and Christianity has not happened in spite of many dialogue events and true encounter might occur if one goes beyond the objective logic by recovering the logic of a mediopassive voice.

"Toward a Religious Foundation for Ethics Concerning the Crisis of the Realm of Global Environmental Life" by Yūji Nagamachi, Sophia University (commentator: Eiko Hanaoka)

This paper discussed the way of inquiry by dialogical examinations among Hans Jonas, Martin Heidegger, and Kitarō Nishida.

"Shinto's View on Life" by Tōji Kamata, Sophia University. (commentator: Masako Keta)

This presentation discussed the idea that Shinto is not monolithic or homogenous but diverse and sees Japan as a crossroad of spirituality, plates, ocean currents, and ethnicity.