Why Can Religion Be Studied in Universities? : The Japanese Higher Educational System and the Policy on Education in the Meiji Era

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  • なぜ大学で宗教が学べるのか : 明治期の教育政策と宗教系専門学校誕生の過程から
  • ナゼ ダイガク デ シュウキョウ ガ マナベル ノ カ : メイジキ ノ キョウイク セイサク ト シュウキョウケイ センモン ガッコウ タンジョウ ノ カテイ カラ

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Abstract

Nowadays, it is generally accepted as axiomatic that Japanese higher education, such as universities, provides courses on religion, and therefore religion can be studied. This was, however, not the case before the Meiji Era, when there was no modern university system. This paper traces the institutional factors that constitute the condition of today's education on and research of religion. The methodology focuses on the relationship between the government, especially the Education Ministry, and religious colleges from the historical point of view of the Japanese higher educational system and the policy on education. First, the Japanese Education Ministry's negative and aversive attitude against religious schools in the early Meiji Era will be presented. Next I will look at the way the Ministry changed its stance and established the Private School Ordinance and Acts of Colleges (Senmon Gakko Ordinance) around 1900 and improved education and research of religion in higher education. Finally, this paper will examine the reality that religious schools were established along with the guidance of the Education Ministry, whose motivation was to construct a modern educational system. This means that the original purpose of education and research in Japanese religious schools was, in the context of the history of education system, not for training religious professionals.

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