Japan — Fertile Ground for Religious Cooperation
Although there have been cases of religious persecution in Japanese history, notably the Christians during the Edo Period and Oomoto before World War II, these persecutions had more to do with politics than religious dogma. Most Japanese believe equally in Buddhism and Shintoism, and in general, Japan’s history is remarkably free of religious strife. As a result, Japanese religions have taken an active interest in the world ecumenical movement.
World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP)
Japanese religions such as Rissho Koseikai and Konko-kyo’s Izuo Branch were instru-mental in establishing the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), which had its first meeting in Kyoto, October 16-21, 1970. Since then, with the strong support of its Japanese members, the WCRP has sponsored numerous inter-religious meetings around the world.
WOREC, 1981. Mt. Hiei Summit, 1987.
In recent years, the Japanese religious world has cooperated through the medium of the Japan Council of Religious Representatives (JCRP), founded July 11, 1979. The JCRP has sponsored the World Religionists Ethics Congress in Tokyo (1981), the Mt. Hiei Summit in Kyoto (1987), and Oomoto’s Prayer and Forum at Ayabe (1993). Each of these meetings brought prominent religious leaders from around the world to share in joint prayer and discussion.
Candle-lighting ceremony at the World Religionists Ethics Congress (WOREC), Tokyo, June 23-26, 1981
