What Sustains Faith : Practice and Narrative of Lay Believers in Byakko-Shinkokai

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  • 信仰を支えるもの : 白光真宏会における信者達の実践と語り
  • シンコウ オ ササエル モノ : ビャッコウ シンコウカイ ニ オケル シンジャ タツ ノ ジッセン ト カタリ

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A considerable numbers of studies have been made on believers of Japanese new religions. What seems to be missing, however, is an understanding of how the mechanisms of each group help lay believers to keep their faith. The purpose of this paper is to consider the mechanisms which legitimate the plausibility of doctrine and practice of a Japanese new religion. Furthermore, subjective speculation of believers and the orientation on it by the church are considered. Byakko-shinkokai is chosen for these purposes. Saionji Masami, who is the successor of the founder, has added new topics on doctrine and practice. Some believers, who are very active members, show bewilderment at this renewal. Three topics are mentioned based on fieldwork on the gatherings of lay believers and a ceremony at headquarters: (1) Declarations of Saionji pronounced at ceremonies at the headquarters, and narratives of believers in the gatherings, reinforce the reality of religious ideas and practices added by Saionji. (2) A remainder of bewilderment activates the speculations and dialogues among believers. (3) On the other hand, some practices called in operate as the mechanism which mobilizes believers to the varieties of activities. It requires us to regard the faith of each believer as, at least partially, the expression of the mechanism.

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