この類いの宗教を検証していると、アメリカのクイズ番組「To Tell the Truth（真実を話す、という意味）」を思い出し、あたかも「本当のメシアさん、お立ち上がりください」と言う場面を想像してしまう。マタイによる福音書24章23〜24節で、聖書はこのような事態についても触れており、これらの偽救世主に注意を払うようにと人々に向けて予め警告を発しています。
A Bibliography of Japanese New Religious Movements with Annotations Including an Introduction to Japanese New Religions at Home and Abroad, copyright 1999 Routledge, Peter B. Clarke, pgs.200-202 Note: (reference found in Google Books, permission request through Cengage has already been granted)
Reiha no Hikari Kyokai known as the ‘Light of Divine Power’ or the ‘Society of the Light of Spiritual Wave’ is yet another Shintoist derivative religion which was established by Hase Yoshio and was originally known as Hase-sensei Sangyo no kai (‘Teacher Hase’s Association of Truth Seeking’).
This group along with hundreds of others has been the result of the need for spiritual fulfillment in Japan and has created hundreds of new spiritual avenues known as Shinshukyo or Shinko Shukyo .
Consequently this spiritual hunger in Japan has been a free for all in producing these pseudo messiah movements. However this influx of self designated messianic enthusiasts should be questioned as to whether these individuals minds and personalities are stable or are they prone to unrealistic religious ideations as having a delusion of grandeur.
This phenomena is noted among psychologists as some individuals are susceptible to religious importance which may be one of the reasons for this psychotic epidemic within Japan. Also I think that one of the causes for this anomaly is due to the explosive expectations for change resulting from world events which has sparked spiritual interests among some of these practitioners who are insecure about their future as needing a sense of hope in the face of the tragedies of life. Favorably speaking there is nothing wrong with this desire for a better future unless it is leading people astray as having misguided spiritual pursuits.
Anyway this situation has produced a number of so called messiahs of our age who are making similar assertions as being the answer towards the salvation of the world. This has led some of these unstable characters to promote violence such as Charles Manson, Jim Jones, David Koresh and apocalyptic leader Shoko Asahara of Aum Shinrikyo while in others it has been more of a passive or peaceful approach like those who propagate certain mystical rites and teachings such as the divine healing powers of Mokichi Okada founder of Sekai Kyusei Kyo or the resultant salvific properties of Hase Yoshio who emanates a divine aura of power from his body.
As I muse about all of this it reminds me of the American game show “To Tell the Truth” as stating “will the real messiah please stand up.” Anyway the bible speaks about this matter and forewarns others to beware of these false messiahs in Matthew 24: 23-24
23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ(Messiah)!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs(messiahs) and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Essentially anybody can make claims to spiritual greatness or enlightenment whether it be the numerous gurus/ swamis of India or these messianic candidates but how do their claims live up to reality in accordance with the expectations of their spiritual leaders? For these individuals to make such exaggerated allegations of spiritual ascendency regarding their subjective religious experiences does not necessitate to prove or promote the essential truthfulness of ultimate reality.
After all are they really making a global impact of brining salvation to the world or are they somehow only affecting a minority of hopefuls? Are they achieving all the benefits by which they have boasted or has it become wishful thinking?
Anyway I previously wrote about Mokichi Okada who claimed that divine light could be channeled to people to heal others through either an upraised cupped hand or an amulet producing spiritual vibrations as to bring balance and harmony to the individual which carries much of the same theme of Hase Yoshio as being able to use his body to direct reiha or spirit waves from the mountain spirit of Mt. Goken which adherents conveniently claim that even after his death he somehow mysteriously became an eternal wave of this spiritual energy.
So apart from your presuppositions or prejudiced views what is the authenticity or real evidence that underlies the hype of these testimonies or stories? After all in their most absolute sense these movements can’t all be right.
In conclusion these messiahs are numerous much like the kami which makes up the culture of Japanese folklore and superstition and this is something in which I have previously written about regarding the religious fallacy behind this belief system of shintoism.
In closing perhaps you have sensed a nagging in your heart towards the irrationality of these religious assertions and I would simply ask you to consider being open to looking at the person and work of Jesus whose teachings apparently influenced Hase Yoshio as seen through the common usage of his ideas and terms such as sin, salvation, church, healing and Messiah. Finally Jesus has made a worldwide and global impact in fulfilling the spiritual needs of people and who will ultimately bring about a new world order of peace in contrast to the chaos of this life and world.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
A Bibliography of Japanese New Religious Movements with Annotations Including an Introduction to Japanese New Religions at Home and Abroad, copyright 1999 Routledge, Peter B. Clarke, pgs.200-202
