Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 64
religious truth, virtue, and beliefs over secular views, such as modernism and rationalism.
Or they refer to the dark days when freedom of religion was suppressed in the name of
public security.
It is true that religions that have challenged established virtues and institutions have caused
countless troubles to secular societies. Yet, religious movements are not always harmful to
society, and indeed they sometimes initiate cultural and social development.
However, our society has become a sufficiently secularized one in which no virtue is greater
than personal rights, self-determination, and public consciousness. Even religious virtue
cannot compete with these. The cult controversy originated from the conflicts between
some controversial religions and their self-proclaimed ―victims.‖ The claims resulting from
these conflicts have been accepted among the general public to the extent that courts can
intervene in religious matters. Recent court judgments on religious problems are largely
different from former ones. So far, the courts have protected the rights of believers of any
religion and dismissed governmental intervention in religious matters in accordance with the
Japanese constitution. But in recent lawsuits against the Unification Church, the rulings
protect the rights to choose beliefs and to disbelieve as well, and they show the rigid limits
of missionary activities in the name of freedom of religion. Of course, Unification Church
members as well as Jehovah's Witnesses have won verdicts that deprogramming infringes
upon the right of belief. Yet, the courts showed deep consideration toward the
circumstances under which families and pastors practiced deprogramming. Violent
intervention in others' beliefs was considered an illegal action, not only in recruitment by
―cults,‖ but also in deprogramming, which has been acknowledged to be confinement and
persuasion.
Nowadays developments in reproductive medicine and transplant surgery have provoked
new controversies over when human life begins and ends and to what extent the
manipulation of human sperm and egg cell can be allowed. As medical technology develops,
a new ethical code will be recognized and legitimated. Thus, personal and public rights in
medicine will be established not only by medical professionals but also by social discussion
of controversial topics.
Similarly, the personal and public rights in religious matters are also being established by
the cult controversy in contemporary society and by the many lawsuits filed by ex-members
and members of controversial religions. These cases are personal matters however, the
legal rulings and their publicity in the mass media make the rulings topics for public
discussion. Compared to medical matters, religious issues seem unimportant among
ordinary Japanese people, except for those individuals concerned with and involved in ―cult‖
problems. Yet, ―cult‖ issues will gradually attract public attention so that people recognize
them as social problems that should be addressed in public policy.
Note
1 In the U.S. "exit counseling" does not imply confinement as does "deprogramming however, in
Japan this distinction is not routinely made, so the term "exit counseling" is often used where U.S.
writers would use "deprogramming."
References
Antal, Chris. 2003. ―Forcible ‗Deprogramming,‘ the Japanese State, and International
Human Rights,‖ Journal of Unification Studies vol.5, Unification Church Theological
Seminary (http://www.uts.edu/volume5.html)
Barker, Eileen. 1984. The Making of a Moonie, Choice or Brainwashing? England: Gregg
Revivals.
Barker, Eileen. 2002.‖Watching for Violence: A Comparative Analysis of the Roles of Five
Types of Cult-Watching Groups,‖ edited by Bromley, D. David and Melton Gordon,
religious truth, virtue, and beliefs over secular views, such as modernism and rationalism.
Or they refer to the dark days when freedom of religion was suppressed in the name of
public security.
It is true that religions that have challenged established virtues and institutions have caused
countless troubles to secular societies. Yet, religious movements are not always harmful to
society, and indeed they sometimes initiate cultural and social development.
However, our society has become a sufficiently secularized one in which no virtue is greater
than personal rights, self-determination, and public consciousness. Even religious virtue
cannot compete with these. The cult controversy originated from the conflicts between
some controversial religions and their self-proclaimed ―victims.‖ The claims resulting from
these conflicts have been accepted among the general public to the extent that courts can
intervene in religious matters. Recent court judgments on religious problems are largely
different from former ones. So far, the courts have protected the rights of believers of any
religion and dismissed governmental intervention in religious matters in accordance with the
Japanese constitution. But in recent lawsuits against the Unification Church, the rulings
protect the rights to choose beliefs and to disbelieve as well, and they show the rigid limits
of missionary activities in the name of freedom of religion. Of course, Unification Church
members as well as Jehovah's Witnesses have won verdicts that deprogramming infringes
upon the right of belief. Yet, the courts showed deep consideration toward the
circumstances under which families and pastors practiced deprogramming. Violent
intervention in others' beliefs was considered an illegal action, not only in recruitment by
―cults,‖ but also in deprogramming, which has been acknowledged to be confinement and
persuasion.
Nowadays developments in reproductive medicine and transplant surgery have provoked
new controversies over when human life begins and ends and to what extent the
manipulation of human sperm and egg cell can be allowed. As medical technology develops,
a new ethical code will be recognized and legitimated. Thus, personal and public rights in
medicine will be established not only by medical professionals but also by social discussion
of controversial topics.
Similarly, the personal and public rights in religious matters are also being established by
the cult controversy in contemporary society and by the many lawsuits filed by ex-members
and members of controversial religions. These cases are personal matters however, the
legal rulings and their publicity in the mass media make the rulings topics for public
discussion. Compared to medical matters, religious issues seem unimportant among
ordinary Japanese people, except for those individuals concerned with and involved in ―cult‖
problems. Yet, ―cult‖ issues will gradually attract public attention so that people recognize
them as social problems that should be addressed in public policy.
Note
1 In the U.S. "exit counseling" does not imply confinement as does "deprogramming however, in
Japan this distinction is not routinely made, so the term "exit counseling" is often used where U.S.
writers would use "deprogramming."
References
Antal, Chris. 2003. ―Forcible ‗Deprogramming,‘ the Japanese State, and International
Human Rights,‖ Journal of Unification Studies vol.5, Unification Church Theological
Seminary (http://www.uts.edu/volume5.html)
Barker, Eileen. 1984. The Making of a Moonie, Choice or Brainwashing? England: Gregg
Revivals.
Barker, Eileen. 2002.‖Watching for Violence: A Comparative Analysis of the Roles of Five
Types of Cult-Watching Groups,‖ edited by Bromley, D. David and Melton Gordon,
