Japan: State Encroaching on Domain of Faith
... Through my own research, I became convinced that most of the negative claims about the Family Federation were fabrications.
Mistrust of Religion: State Persecuting Minority
... Understanding that human ideals and happiness rely on the ability of free individuals to maximize their potential within society, I, as a Buddhist monk, feel deeply the need to reconcile the enormous gap between…
New Laws Let Lawyers Aid Many to Pose as Victim
... considering that the church‘s founder, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, was a frontrunner in the fight against communism. He praised the Family Federation as “the only religious organization that has stood squarely against a demonic…
Japan: Exhibition Exposes Horrors of Persecution
... When people saw the panel of Toru Goto, they were shocked to realize that something like this could happen so close to home. And when we told them about cases like a woman who…
New Laws: Religious Donors as “Quasi-Incompetent”
... most of the information under investigation came from anonymous individuals or those who did not provide contact details. The commissioner emphasized, “Even on the information submission form, we ask people to always include their…
Government-Protected Business of Faith-Breaking
... One man campaigning at the event said tearfully, “Some may wonder whether these kidnappings and confinements truly occurred, but I am a victim myself.”
Japan’s Dehumanizing View Shocks Young Members
... religious beliefs are passed down from parents to children, but in many cases, they are not. The inner conflicts that arise are part of the parent-child relationship and can vary widely. Viewing second-generation followers…
Japan: Faith and Parenting, Parents Also Struggle
... Regardless of whether they choose our faith, my child is still my precious child. However, some parents feel that if their child rejects the faith, it’s as if they’ve failed as parents. Accepting the…
I Can Have Deeper Conversations Than Before
... Through this encounter, Takeuchi experienced how her world could expand despite the religious differences. She asserts, “I, too, want to work towards a world where people with religious values aren’t subjected to discrimination or…
State Prying into Faith Passed to One’s Children
... When we reflect, it becomes clear that it is a mistake to view the transmission of faith from parent to child negatively and to see so-called “second-generation religious adherents” solely as victims. We must…