Evangelische Bank eG
IBAN: DE85 5206 0410 0000 0001 24
BIC: GENODEF1EK1
Japan: ISJP
Japan: Interreligious Studies in Japan Programme
A better understanding of one’s own faith; understanding other religions; or learning more about Asia and Christian theology – this is all possible with the Interreligious Studies in Japan Programme.
Christians in Asia have always existed in a field of tension between various religions and ideologies. Today, Christians in other countries must gradually face this challenge more and more. This special situation has given rise in Asia to theological institutes which offer courses on inter-faith dialogue and maintaining contacts with other religions.
Place of interreligious and intercultural encounter
One such place of encounter is the NCC Study Center in the Japanese city of Kyoto. It offers students from a wide range of disciplines the chance to participate in the “Interreligious studies” course held in English – to prepare them to face challenges in a pluralistic society where there are more and more religions. The course requires students to have completed a basic study in theology, religious education, pastoral care studies, religious studies or Japanology.
The students learn how to better understand their own multi-religious environment, how to become involved in inter-faith learning and how to sensitise their own church to the need for dialogue. These tasks are not only mastered by a personal learning experience locally – by achieving a balance between academic learning and participating in local cultural and social life. “We were more sensitive when we returned. And also sensitive to the gradually more pluralistic religious and church environments before our own front door,” said one of the former students and made it clear how valuable such experiences are to encounter people of other faiths as part of theological training.
Japan
126 million inhabitants, of which 50.7% are Shinto, 43.6% Buddhist, and 1.2% Christian
Theological institute with international renown
Since it was founded in 1958, the NCC Study Center has pursued the scientific study of Japanese religions and inter-faith dialogue to promote mutual understanding between religions. So far, the institute has accepted many guest students and scientific scholars for periods of study ranging from one month up to two years. Due to its many years of activities, the NCC Study Center has gained a reputation as an internationally renowned centre for the study of Japanese religions and to acquire skills in issues dealing with inter-faith understanding.
Project goals
With the course “Interreligious Studies” the National Christian Council Center for the Study of Japanese Religions (NCC Study Center) offers students of theology, religious studies, religious education and other disciplines the opportunity to attend an English-speaking course of study in Japan. The students learn how to better understand their own multi-religious environment, how to become involved in inter-faith learning and how to sensitise their own church to the need for dialogue. The NCC Study Center is a venue of inter-faith and intercultural learning and encounter.
Project work
In its course “Interreligious Studies”, the NCC Study Center teaches knowledge about handling one’s own multi-faith environment as well as Asian and Christian theology. The focus is on inter-faith dialogue to promote mutual understanding between religions. The institute offers students a personal learning experience – between academic learning and taking parting in local cultural and social life. Encounter with people of a different faith is an elementary part of theological training.
Project partner
The United Church of Christ in Japan (KYODAN) has about 200,000 members in 1,700 congregations and with 2,200 female and male pastors, it is the largest Protestant church in Japan. Besides evangelisation, it is committed to peaceful coexistence with its East Asian neighbours. A particular concern of the UCCJ is the fight against the discrimination of minorities. Christians form less than one per cent of the population and are themselves a minority in Japan; there are a total of about 650,000 Protestants in Japan.
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