Shinji Shūmeikai

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Shinji Shūmeikai ( Japanese 神 慈秀明 会 , also: Shūmei ) is a new religious movement in Japan . Shinji means "divine love", shūmei means "supreme light" and Kai means "organization".

background

Shinji Shūmeikai claims to be dedicated to creating an ideal state of health , happiness and harmony through the application of the wisdom and insights of the spiritual teacher, Mokichi Okada (1882–1955), whom his members also call "Meishūsama". Mokichi Okada taught that a world free from sickness , poverty and discord is possible through the practice of the Jyorei spiritual healing arts , the appreciation of art and beauty and the practice of "natural agriculture". There are very special rules for this, for example Jyorei can only be given by members who receive a pendant in an inauguration ceremony, for whose handling there are many rules.

history

Mokichi Okada founded the Church of World Messianity ( Sekai Kyūsei Kyō , abbreviation "COWM"). From this, Shinji Shūmeikai split off in 1970, which was founded by Okada's student Mihoko Koyama . A very limited selection of Okada's texts is made available to members. In 1997, the movement opened the Miho Museum in Kōka . In that year (1997) Shinji Shumeikai numbered about 400,000 members. The organization is financed by donations, which are expected, among other things, every time you attend a ceremony. Members must do two years of volunteer service at headquarters before they can be employed.

In Germany Shumei is a non-profit organization and there are “Shūmei centers” in Berlin , Frankfurt am Main and Bad Nauheim . Each Shumei center has a shrine in front of which ceremonies must take place at least twice a day. There are other mandatory ceremonies once a month and on certain days of the year or on certain occasions. Before each ceremony, a text about "truthfulness" is read out, including a certain sense of duty and obedience. Overall, the organization is structured very hierarchically in line with Japanese culture.

criticism

According to the Christian Missionary Centers for Apologetics Research website, the French National Assembly's Sect Research Committee classified Shinji Shūmeikai France as a sect in 1995. There is also said to be a "Shinji Shumeikai Victims' Association Network" (network of Shūmei victims).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Temple for Art . focus.de. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  2. ↑ Boehm: The old man and the mountain . In: Der Spiegel . No. 48 , 1997, pp. 247 ( Online - Nov. 24, 1997 ).
  3. ↑ Shinji Shumeikai . thecenters.org. Retrieved September 16, 2008.