A Japanese Theology of Compassion and Suffering: A Look at Kitamori Kazoh with Fr. Gavin Mcadam
I can honestly say that I had never heard of Kitamori, a Lutheran Japanese theologian and pastor who lived through most of the twentieth century, born in 1916, and author of 40 books. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out about something completely new to me.
Fr Gavin did a great job, as well, of pulling out, and then pulling us into, one of the key themes of Kitamori’s work, which is how to appreciate Japanese native traditions of compassion and alterity in order not only to facilitate the transmission of the Gospel in Japan, but also instruct World Christianity on things it may have lost, or at least need reacquaintance. Kitamori advocated Japanese and others study traditions of compassion and alterity (my word, not Fr Gavin’s—and I hope it’s acceptable to him) within Kabuki play scripts, folktales etc. and within Japanese Buddhism. I found this highly interesting, and saw many real-world and practical applications for this, some of which come out in our discussion following his talk. There excellent methods here and thinking in terms of how we can live the Gospel within Japanese society today, and invite Japanese and others, and ourselves, into the divine life in Christ.
I think our listeners will find this stimulating as well, and I have posted a few things below to invite you all in. Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!
Fr Gavin's talk with us