KAWASHIMA, Kenji Professor

Learning about religion
The first step to understanding the world

My research focuses on the transformation of religious concepts and philosophies in the context of modernization. In Japan, Christians and Muslims make up about 1% of the population. However, stepping outside of Japan, it's said that roughly one in two people are either Christian or Muslim. Therefore, studying religion is a gateway and foundation to understanding world cultures and philosophies.

This department is the only one in the Tohoku region where you can specialize in the study of Christianity. Why not open the door to the world with us?

• Major research fields: Religious studies, philosophy of religion
• Courses taught: Religious Studies I, Modern European Thought and Philosophy, Systematic Theology

Research topic

Religious pluralism, religion and social issues, cults

Research Topics

• Considering the challenges facing religion, Christian theology, and philosophical thought in contemporary society.
• This research explores the meaning and function of religion in human society through the analysis of various elements of religion as a cultural phenomenon, such as myths, life rituals, and annual events (a topic covered in the "Religious Studies" course).
• Research on the challenges facing Christian doctrine and ethics in modern society (a topic covered in the "Systematic Theology" course).
• Research on modern philosophical thought (a topic covered in the course "Modern European Thought and Philosophy")
• Pathological Studies of Religion

Examples of graduation thesis titles from the Kawashima Seminar

• "On Psychological Manipulation and its Effects in Recruitment Activities of Religious Groups"
• "The Religious Unconscious and Archetype Theory in Jung"
• "Yokai that appear at the boundary"
• "On coexistence with people with disabilities"
• "From Sartre's 'Saint Genet': What is the freedom of the subject in interaction with others?"

Recent works

• "Religion and Cults Under Scrutiny" (co-authored), NHK Publishing New Books, 2023.
• "On the Religious Literacy Needed in Japanese Society Today," *Characteristics and Economic Policy*, No. 323, 2023.
• "Japanese People and Cults: The Cult Problem as a Question for Evangelism in Japan," *Evangelism and Theology*, No. 14, 2024.

For more details, please see researchmap.