Religion in Japanese Culture

Undergraduate catalogue cross-listing

What does religion mean for a culture in which the majority of people identify as nonbelievers but still regularly engage in seemingly religious acts? By looking at Japanese religions within their cultural contexts, we will question the supposed binary between religious and secular spheres. The course examines Buddhist, Shinto, and Christian traditions, as well as topics such as myth and politics; indigeneity and identity; and secularism and law from ancient to modern times. We also consider groups that have historically been marginalized, such as Ainu, Ryukyuan, and immigrant communities in Japan. Two lectures, one preceptorial.