THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES OF JAPANESE CHRISTIANS IN SINGAPORE: A CASE STUDY OF THE INTERNATIONAL JAPANESE CHURCH OF SINGAPORE (IJCS)

Abstract

This case study attempts to unravel the dynamic interaction between Christianity and the Japanese culture from the standpoint of the religious institution, IJCS, as well as from the perspective of the Japanese believers. By basing the case study in the context of Singapore, we enter into yet another level of analysis: that of the impact of interaction with the religious culture of Singapore on the Japanese believers. Various patterns of interpenetration between Christianity and the Japanese culture from the vantage point of IJCS, and the ways it attempts to combine them to achieve the greatest effect hive been investigated. It is the thesis of this paper that being in a foreign land enables IJCS to accomplish its mission of proselytisation easier because of the adopting of the status of an independent church. The result of the analysis also attest to the fact that the Japanese believers' do not become "less Japanese" after their conversion, but as they grapple with the tension of the dual identity, it is to their own culture that they actually gravitate. Finally, the impact of the Japanese believers' interaction with local culture on their religious experience has been a spiritual gain for them. Although, the case study shows that Christianity seems to be riding on the waves of internationalisation to enhance its propagation, however, judging from the Japanese-oriented emphasis of IJCS and the reason for commitment of the Japanese believers, it seems reasonable to say that the relationship is a non-reciprocal one.