The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2554 page)
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Authors: John Bowker
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Ucchedav
da
da(P
li, Skt., ‘the doctrine of the cutting-off (of the soul and the body)’). Annihilationism (
nihilism
), the doctrine of no after-life in any form whatsoever, the belief that personal identity perishes with the body at death. It and its antithesis,
eternalism
, occur in the Buddhist
Nik
yas
as the two most common forms of misrepresenting reality.
li, Skt., ‘the doctrine of the cutting-off (of the soul and the body)’). Annihilationism (nihilism
), the doctrine of no after-life in any form whatsoever, the belief that personal identity perishes with the body at death. It and its antithesis,
eternalism
, occur in the Buddhist
Nik
yasas the two most common forms of misrepresenting reality.
Ucchi
a
a(Skt., ‘left over’). The remnants/remainders of a sacrifice in Hinduism. The continuing power within them helps to sustain the world (
Atharva Veda
11. 7).
Atharva Veda
11. 7).
Uchimura Kanz
(1861–1930)
. Pioneer Japanese
Protestant
leader and founder of the Non-Church (Muky
kai) movement.
Uchimura spent four years studying in the USA at Amherst College and Hartford Seminary, returning in 1888. Two years later, he became a teacher in the new government academy to prepare students for the Imperial University. On 9 Jan. 1891, the teachers were compelled to participate in a ceremony that became standard procedure for all schools in the Japanese empire until the end of the Second World War. This was to make a low bow of obeisance before a personally signed copy of the Imperial Rescript on Education, which had been promulgated the previous autumn. Some Christian teachers absented themselves from school to avoid the issue of possible idolatry. Uchimura refused to do this, and in the presence of sixty professors and over 1,000 students he went forward but did not bow.
Uchimura was assured by Christian friends that bowing in this case was not an act of worship, and after reflection he decided to conform. The incident, however, became a
cause célèbre
, and Uchimura was forced to resign his post. He continued to support himself by teaching, but from 1892 he turned seriously to writing.
Uchimura was primarily concerned for Christian freedom, and in the context of his own time and place this meant the spiritual independence of Japanese Christians
vis-à-vis
the almost overwhelming cultural influence of W. forms of Christianity. For this reason Uchimura was able to speak with telling power to members of Japanese churches as well as to those of Muky
kai, to non-Christians as to Christians. He affirmed
both
Japan
and
Jesus, and was often attacked from each side.
. Pioneer Japanese
Protestant
leader and founder of the Non-Church (Muky
kai) movement.Uchimura spent four years studying in the USA at Amherst College and Hartford Seminary, returning in 1888. Two years later, he became a teacher in the new government academy to prepare students for the Imperial University. On 9 Jan. 1891, the teachers were compelled to participate in a ceremony that became standard procedure for all schools in the Japanese empire until the end of the Second World War. This was to make a low bow of obeisance before a personally signed copy of the Imperial Rescript on Education, which had been promulgated the previous autumn. Some Christian teachers absented themselves from school to avoid the issue of possible idolatry. Uchimura refused to do this, and in the presence of sixty professors and over 1,000 students he went forward but did not bow.
Uchimura was assured by Christian friends that bowing in this case was not an act of worship, and after reflection he decided to conform. The incident, however, became a
cause célèbre
, and Uchimura was forced to resign his post. He continued to support himself by teaching, but from 1892 he turned seriously to writing.
Uchimura was primarily concerned for Christian freedom, and in the context of his own time and place this meant the spiritual independence of Japanese Christians
vis-à-vis
the almost overwhelming cultural influence of W. forms of Christianity. For this reason Uchimura was able to speak with telling power to members of Japanese churches as well as to those of Muky
kai, to non-Christians as to Christians. He affirmedboth
Japan
and
Jesus, and was often attacked from each side.
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