Citation

Kohara K. Jpn. J. Relig. Stud. 2005; 79(2): 451-474.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Japanese Association for Religious Studies)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

First, the author takes examples from the discourse on monotheism and polytheism in Japan and the West, and describes their features. Next, he clarifies the cultural structure of that discourse by locating it in Orientalism and Occidentalism, as well as its religious structure by adding the additional aspect of idolatry. The ban on idolatry is a common ground of faith for monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Idolatry is not restricted to the materialistic sense, but it functions also in terms of an "invisible idolatry, " including various ideas and images made by human beings. In addition, the author indicates that in the modern age idolatry has been reinterpreted with models such as "replacement, " "extension, " and "inversion." Finally, he argues that "invisible idolatry" can become a kind of structural violence, referring to eschatology and evolution theory. At the same time he suggests some points which could prevent discourse on monotheism and polytheism from shifting into violence.

Language: ja