The Shinto Purification Rites and the Concept of Sin in Mark 7:14-23: Towards a Contemporary Biblical Theology of Purification in and for the Context of Japan

Abstract

Japanese Shinto has for centuries influenced much of Japanese culture. One of those influences is found in the priority of purity, recognized in many Shinto purification rituals. This has inspired the development of a contemporary biblical theology of purification in and for the context of Japan. This paper begins with an exegetical study of Mark 7:14-23. In this passage, Jesus was confronted by religious leaders who placed a high priority on external purity maintained through ritual. Jesus declared that nothing outside a man’s heart makes him unclean. Jesus is presented as God’s purity agent and there is much to be learnt from Him regarding sin as impurity. The Japanese notion of sin as impurity will be discovered within the cultural-religious milieu of contemporary Japanese Shinto. Although some traditional Shinto beliefs have fallen away, the concepts of purity and impurity are still recognizable in many modern Japanese practices, especially their external rituals. Some modern rituals and practices will be identified to confirm this argument. The Jewish value for ritual purity as demonstrated in Mark 7:14-23 has developed out of Ancient Near Eastern religious culture. Sin as impurity will be examined within the Ancient Near Eastern milieu and be compared to the idea of impurity in Modern Japanese Shinto. This will highlight notable similarities and differences between the Jewish people of the Bible, and Modern Japanese Shinto people and their relationship with the concept of purification. This provides one possible narrative for sin as impurity that is both biblical and applicable to Japanese culture. Finally, a contextualized theology of purification is the outcome of this thesis and I demonstrate how this can be done without compromising biblical authority. Some contextualized tools will be developed that can assist the Japanese context.

Japanese Shinto has for centuries influenced much of Japanese culture. One of those influences is found in the priority of purity, recognized in many Shinto purification rituals. This has inspired the development of a contemporary biblical theology of purification in and for the context of Japan. This paper begins with an exegetical study of Mark 7:14-23. In this passage, Jesus was confronted by religious leaders who placed a high priority on external purity maintained through ritual. Jesus declared that nothing outside a man’s heart makes him unclean. Jesus is presented as God’s purity agent and there is much to be learnt from Him regarding sin as impurity. The Japanese notion of sin as impurity will be discovered within the cultural-religious milieu of contemporary Japanese Shinto. Although some traditional Shinto beliefs have fallen away, the concepts of purity and impurity are still recognizable in many modern Japanese practices, especially their external rituals. Some modern rituals and practices will be identified to confirm this argument. The Jewish value for ritual purity as demonstrated in Mark 7:14-23 has developed out of Ancient Near Eastern religious culture. Sin as impurity will be examined within the Ancient Near Eastern milieu and be compared to the idea of impurity in Modern Japanese Shinto. This will highlight notable similarities and differences between the Jewish people of the Bible, and Modern Japanese Shinto people and their relationship with the concept of purification. This provides one possible narrative for sin as impurity that is both biblical and applicable to Japanese culture. Finally, a contextualized theology of purification is the outcome of this thesis and I demonstrate how this can be done without compromising biblical authority. Some contextualized tools will be developed that can assist the Japanese context.