Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 42
chose to act as it did and why/how the Aum Shinrikyo teachings are misguided. Instead,
many religious organizations emphasized internally and externally that their organizations
were completely different from Aum Shinrikyo. Yet few religious organizations thought to
use the Aum Shinrikyo case as a lesson and to seek ways to help or save, in the real sense
of the word, vulnerable people living and suffering in present day society.
The Nichiren (Buddhist) religion, the Soto (Buddhist) religion and some Christian
organizations produced pamphlets and other reading materials about cult problems and in
doing so raised social concern. They also initiated counseling services in an effort to help
cult believers and their family members suffering from cult problems. However, since many
religious organizations were busy with their own organizational management, few had the
time to address the problem of cults in their main organizational agendas.
Court Judgments Following the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Sarin Gas Incident
Based on the conclusions of investigations on Aum Shinrikyo conducted by police and
prosecutors after March 1995, the competent authorities of the Tokyo Metropolitan
government made an appeal requesting the dissolution of the Aum Shinrikyo as a religious
corporation. That request was approved by the Tokyo District Court on 30 October 1995,
the Tokyo High Court on 19 December 1995, and the Supreme Court on 30 January 1996.
Accordingly, it was determined that the Aum Shinrikyo should be dissolved as a religious
corporation. However, during the one-year period it took for the dissolution, Aum Shinrikyo
transferred the name of ownership on almost all of its property holdings and sold its
property or otherwise hid its assets. Less than 30 percent of the compensation money
awarded to the victims and families of the deceased in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo
subway system has been paid to date. However, it is expected that the victims will receive
additional monetary compensation following the enactment of a new law in December 1999.
According to this law, property held by organizations or individuals affiliated with Aum
Shinrikyo may be presumed to be the property of Aum Shinrikyo.
About 200 Aum Shinrikyo believers were arrested and indicted on criminal charges for
committing various unlawful acts. Of those 200, two members were sentenced to death for
the Sarin incident and the slaying of Attorney Sakamoto, his wife, and child. (The two
persons are currently appealing the case.) In the future, several other persons are
expected to receive capital punishment as well. The issues at dispute in the criminal cases
are the degree to which each defendant participated in the said incidents and whether or
not they were a part of a conspiracy inclusive of Aum Shinrikyo leader Asahara Shoko. The
courts were extremely hard on the defendants who formerly worked for the Aum Shinrikyo
headquarters, since Aum Shinrikyo evolved into an ―enemy of the people.‖
Another disputed issue in the criminal cases concerns the mind control theory. It is difficult
to explain rationally why young individuals, who graduated from top universities in Japan
and then became medical doctors or scientists, approved and participated in the slaying of
people in a short period of time. To date, there have been only very poor explanations such
as ―religions have that sort of characteristic,‖ ―a person‘s involvement in religion has
nothing to do with his educational background,‖ and ―young people today lack imagination.‖
Therefore, to date, no judgments have been passed to find that the defendants—by using
mind control in accordance with the intents and purposes of the religious organization and
its leaders—manipulated the thoughts and emotions of its members and thus made the
believers capable of easily committing crimes. Rather, courts have rigorously questioned the
individual responsibility of suspects for getting deeply involved in such a dangerous
organization.
chose to act as it did and why/how the Aum Shinrikyo teachings are misguided. Instead,
many religious organizations emphasized internally and externally that their organizations
were completely different from Aum Shinrikyo. Yet few religious organizations thought to
use the Aum Shinrikyo case as a lesson and to seek ways to help or save, in the real sense
of the word, vulnerable people living and suffering in present day society.
The Nichiren (Buddhist) religion, the Soto (Buddhist) religion and some Christian
organizations produced pamphlets and other reading materials about cult problems and in
doing so raised social concern. They also initiated counseling services in an effort to help
cult believers and their family members suffering from cult problems. However, since many
religious organizations were busy with their own organizational management, few had the
time to address the problem of cults in their main organizational agendas.
Court Judgments Following the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Sarin Gas Incident
Based on the conclusions of investigations on Aum Shinrikyo conducted by police and
prosecutors after March 1995, the competent authorities of the Tokyo Metropolitan
government made an appeal requesting the dissolution of the Aum Shinrikyo as a religious
corporation. That request was approved by the Tokyo District Court on 30 October 1995,
the Tokyo High Court on 19 December 1995, and the Supreme Court on 30 January 1996.
Accordingly, it was determined that the Aum Shinrikyo should be dissolved as a religious
corporation. However, during the one-year period it took for the dissolution, Aum Shinrikyo
transferred the name of ownership on almost all of its property holdings and sold its
property or otherwise hid its assets. Less than 30 percent of the compensation money
awarded to the victims and families of the deceased in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo
subway system has been paid to date. However, it is expected that the victims will receive
additional monetary compensation following the enactment of a new law in December 1999.
According to this law, property held by organizations or individuals affiliated with Aum
Shinrikyo may be presumed to be the property of Aum Shinrikyo.
About 200 Aum Shinrikyo believers were arrested and indicted on criminal charges for
committing various unlawful acts. Of those 200, two members were sentenced to death for
the Sarin incident and the slaying of Attorney Sakamoto, his wife, and child. (The two
persons are currently appealing the case.) In the future, several other persons are
expected to receive capital punishment as well. The issues at dispute in the criminal cases
are the degree to which each defendant participated in the said incidents and whether or
not they were a part of a conspiracy inclusive of Aum Shinrikyo leader Asahara Shoko. The
courts were extremely hard on the defendants who formerly worked for the Aum Shinrikyo
headquarters, since Aum Shinrikyo evolved into an ―enemy of the people.‖
Another disputed issue in the criminal cases concerns the mind control theory. It is difficult
to explain rationally why young individuals, who graduated from top universities in Japan
and then became medical doctors or scientists, approved and participated in the slaying of
people in a short period of time. To date, there have been only very poor explanations such
as ―religions have that sort of characteristic,‖ ―a person‘s involvement in religion has
nothing to do with his educational background,‖ and ―young people today lack imagination.‖
Therefore, to date, no judgments have been passed to find that the defendants—by using
mind control in accordance with the intents and purposes of the religious organization and
its leaders—manipulated the thoughts and emotions of its members and thus made the
believers capable of easily committing crimes. Rather, courts have rigorously questioned the
individual responsibility of suspects for getting deeply involved in such a dangerous
organization.
