The Debate between the Anti-religion Movement and Buddhism in Modern Japan

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870919
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Japanese history; History of thought
• Research Institution: Ryukoku University
• Principal Investigator: KONDO SHUNTARO 龍谷大学, 公私立大学の部局等, 研究員 (00649030)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 近代日本 / 仏教史 / 宗教史 / マルクス主義 / 反宗教 / 宗教批判 / 無神論 / 宗教肯定

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This project researched the debate between the anti-religion movement and Buddhism in modern Japan. In order to reconstruct an overall image of this debate, I surveyed, uncovered, and analyzed historical documents.
In doing so, the following became clear. (1) Marxism’s criticism of religion focused on the social position of individuals professionally involved in religion. (2) Buddhists’ reply to this criticism of religion emphasized religion’s internal and spiritual dimension. (3) Therefore, the two sides of this debate took place in completely different theoretical dimensions. (4) The anti-religion movement impacted the religious world because dissatisfaction regarding the social position and economic advantage of individuals professionally involved in religion existed widely throughout society.

Free Research Field

思想史