“La Comunità Religiosa come Rete di Mutuo soccorso. Forme di Assistenza Sociale in Risshō Kōseikai”

Translated title of the contribution: The Religious Community as a Network of Mutual Aid. Elements of Social Care in Risshō Kōseikai

Aura Di Febo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The Religious Community as a Network of Mutual Aid. Social Care activities in Risshō Kōseikai.

The paper discusses the social care activities promoted by Japanese new religious organisations, focusing on the lay-Buddhist movement Risshō Kōseikai. Kōseikai’s welfare activities are examined within the broader framework of Japan’s welfare system, in comparison with social services offered by non-religious providers. Data collected through 12 months of fieldwork within local congregations revealed many commonalities between their activities and other locally-based networks of mutual support, questioning the distinctiveness of Kōseikai-sponsored care as religiously-connoted. In the eyes of practitioners, however, welfare activities acquire religious significance by being reinterpreted in the light of the movement’s doctrine, turning into a missionary tool and vehicle for practice.
Translated title of the contributionThe Religious Community as a Network of Mutual Aid. Elements of Social Care in Risshō Kōseikai
Original languageItalian
Title of host publicationAtti Covengno AISTUGIA (Associazione Italiana Studi Giapponesi) XLI
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 22 Sept 2018

Keywords

  • Religion
  • Social care
  • social welfare
  • Japanese religions
  • New religions
  • Japanese Buddhism
  • Social engagement
  • volunteering
  • Buddhism

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Religious Community as a Network of Mutual Aid. Elements of Social Care in Risshō Kōseikai'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this