Syncretism in New Religious Movements of Japan: The Case of Oomotokyo

Abstract

This work is devoted to the ideological content of one of the most significant Japanese new religious movements of the 19^th – 20^th centuries, Oomotoky, which to a high degree influenced the proselytizing methods and teachings of later new religions, the founders of which were also descendants of Oomoto (in particular, Seicho-no Ie and Sekai Kyseiky). The author attempts to identify the origin of various doctrinal elements of Oomoto, which, as in many other new religious movements, are syncretic in nature, existing side by side with postulates rooted in completely different religions.
The study finds that Oomoto was particularly influenced by late Edo-era kosha folk religious organizations, traditional shamanism, Shinto beliefs and their interpretations within the Kokugaku tradition, as well as selected Buddhist elements taken out of context and ideas from various kinds of Western ideas, which include internationalism and biblical exegesis in its highly simplified, unorthodox, and loose version.
The findings provide a more accurate understanding of the Japanese religious landscape from the late nineteenth century to the present day and help to better understand how Oomoto may have influenced the formation of the teachings of later NRMs. The work is also intended to draw attention to the poorly studied nature of Japan’s new religions in Russian-speaking academia.