Research on Contemporary Religious Consciousness

1. “疏友堂会”的追踪调查：采用参与观察、访谈、问卷调查等方法，对新成立的宗教团体“疏友堂会”进行追踪调查。问卷调查的结果显示，自1989年的上一次调查以来，该协会对信徒信仰生活的影响发生了各种变化。将“修炼团法会会”视为修炼自我的非宗教团体而非宗教团体的信徒有所增加，并称通过加入该团体获得了精神上的支持的人也有所增加。参与法会会的活动，有一种脱离日常生活的肃穆感的信徒也在增加。这些结果表明，作为一个宗教组织，法会发现自己在今天的追随者中处于一个不确定的位置。然而，关于创始人，即使在他20年前去世后，追随者仍然依靠他在教学和书面作品中保留的魅力。在社会价值观方面，他们倾向于保守，他们倾向于强调自己的私人生活而不是社会角色，这与当代日本社会的大趋势相似。对那些认为自己没有特定宗教信仰的人进行的访谈调查：为了确定当代日本宗教信仰的模式，对那些对新的灵性文化感兴趣的人进行了访谈。此外，还采访了医疗和护理专家，了解他们的精神和对生死的看法。

1. Follow-up Survey of 'Shuyodan Hoseikai' : A follow-up survey of the new religious association, 'Shuyodan Hoseikai', was conducted by using participate observation, interviews, and a questionnaire survey. Results of the questionnaire survey suggest various changes in the influence of the association on the faith-life of the followers since the previous survey in 1989. Followers who see 'Shuyodan Hoseikai' as a non-religious association for self-cultivation rather than a religious association have increased, as have the members who say that they have found some spiritual support as a result of joining the group. The number of followers who say they have some kind of a solemn feeling removed from ordinary life when they participate in Hoseikai's activities has also increased. These results reveal that as a religious organization Hoseikai finds itself in a uncertain position among its followers today. Regarding the founder, however, even after his death 20 years ago the followers continue to rely on his charisma as preserved in his teaching and written works. In terms of social values, the followers tend to be conservative, and they tend to emphasize their private lives more than social roles, similar to larger trends in contemporary Japanese society.2. Interview survey with those who identify themselves as having no particular religious beliefs : Interviews were held with those who have an interest in the new spirituality culture, in order to identify the patterns of contemporary Japanese religiosity. In addition, medical and care specialists were interviewed concerning their spirituality and view of life and death.