Unity of Eschatological Prophecy and Karma Theory : Aleph Theodicy

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Other Title
  • カルマ説と終末予言の接合 : アレフの神義論
  • カルマセツ ト シュウマツ ヨゲン ノ セツゴウ アレフ ノ シンギロン

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Abstract

Sociologist HASHIZUME Daizaburou was interested in understanding the historical and theological relationship of karma theory and eschatological prophecy in Aum Shinrikyo. As in Aum, eschatological prophecy is an important part of many cult movements. But Aum was based on Buddhism, and they connected karma theory and eschatological prophecy. I have explored the types of their theodicy when their eschatological prophecy failed, and I have studied the connection between their karma theory and eschatological prophecy. I think the connection is important and it contains the essence of the sect's qualities. When their eschatological prophecy failed, they constructed a typological theodicy about their history. In this case, typology means the christian theological interpretation of the Old and New Testament. For example, the Unification Church has a typological interpretation of the Old and New Testament. They find a parallelism between Adam and Jesus, between Jesus and the Rev. Moon. On the group level, they find a parallelism between ancient Israeli and Korea under Japanese rule. In the case of Aum, they find a parallelism between Asahara and Jesus, between Asahara and Hirohito. On the group level, they find a parallelism between Japan and their sect, a parallelism between pre-WWII Japan and Aum, and a parallelism between post-WWII Japan and Aleph. This typological interpretation is called the Japan-Aleph or Japan-Aum parallel theory by their sect. In Japan, the origin of this typological interpretation can also be found in Deguchi Onisaburou, the parallelism between Omotokyo and Showa Japan. Onisaburou thought Omotokyo was a miniature of Japan. Asahara and Jouyu, the representative of Aleph, also think Aum and Aleph are miniatures of Japan. The parallel theory is called, in other words, the miniature theory by them. This typological interpretation posits periodical reappearence of the miniature. This typological interpretation of periodical reappearence is related to karma theory. I think Aleph constructed typological interpretation of their theodicy concerning the connection of karma theory and eschatological prophecy. In their typological interpretation, karma theory includes eschatological prophecy. When their eschatological prophecy failed, they repeated the periodical reappearence of their karma.

Journal

  • Religion and Society

    Religion and Society 8 (0), 39-58, 2002

    The Japanese Association for the Study of Religion and Society

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