Is Catholicism compatible to Asia

[oldcatholicguy]

You know, this reminds me of an observation that the late Japanese author Shusaku Endo (Catholic convert) had made. He opined - somewhat controversially - that Christianity as it is expressed in Western, European cultures will not work in Japan.

First of all, there’s the issue of religious ‘orthodoxy’ versus ‘heterodoxy’, where there seems to be no middle ground: you’re either orthodox in your beliefs or you’re not. Purity of teaching is given priority: no mixing-and-matching is allowed. This is somewhat foreign to Japanese culture, which had historically favored ‘harmony of diversity’ (anyone familiar with Japanese history here will be reminded of the syncretism between Buddhism and Shinto, the eventual amalgamation of Christianity and local beliefs among the ‘Hidden Christians’, as well as some of the so-called ‘new religions’.) This is related to the Japanese preference of the ambiguous, the ‘maybe’ over the absolute certainty of the West.

Second, there is the image of God as Father. Fathers in Japanese culture were traditionally seen as very stern, punitive, judgmental figures (according to a traditional proverb, the four most terrifying things in the world are “earthquake, lightning, fire and a father”). So the idea of God as a loving, merciful Father - qualities that are traditionally associated with a mother - is a somewhat foreign concept. Endo believes that this is the reason why among the Hidden Christians, the Almighty and even Christ Himself could not serve as the core of faith. Instead, attention was given to Mary under the form of Maria Kannon (Mary + the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, often portrayed as a woman in East Asia). For them, mother Mary was the mediator with the stern God of judgment - in short, Jesus was more or less identified with Mary, the compassionate, motherly love that embraces all. For Endo, the ‘indigenization’ of the Christian religion among the Japanese (as seen among the Kakure Kirishitan) transformed it from a father’s religion to a mother’s religion. Endo’s interpretation of Jesus is informed by this: much emphasis is placed on His ‘maternal’ compassion and self-sacrificial obedience. For him, this is what must be emphasized for Christianity to really work in Japan.

You answered your own question. Catholicism is compatible, it’s the manner in which it is being expressed which is the problem.

 

[patrick457]

You answered your own question. Catholicism is compatible, it’s the manner in which it is being expressed which is the problem.

Exactly. The thing is that some people out there seem to have the idea that if it ain’t identical to the Western (European) expression of Catholicism, it isn’t Catholicism at all. Just sayin’.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

Exactly. The thing is that some people out there seem to have the idea that if it ain’t identical to the Western (European) expression of Catholicism, it isn’t Catholicism at all. Just sayin’.

Than those individuals are mistaken.

 

[Evan]

I live in Western Washington, and when I go to mass in a local parish I can’t understand a word they say. The mass, the decorations, the homily, the people. Everything is Korean. We have a friend who invites us. But I feel that the mass there is not Eurocentric. I can’t know as it all appears reverent, but in a totally foreign tongue.

When it is in Latin, Spanish, French, Italian, English, or German, I can figure it out to some extent. But Korean does not give me enough verbal cues.

But I love their mass

 

[thistle]

It’s difficult for me to relate with Catholicism as someone of an Oriental descent. On one hand I love the Latin Mass, on the other I find it a little too euro-centric. But it isn’t just the Latin Mass, even the Norvus Ordo is euro-centric as well and almost every single Catholic discussions and Catholic posts are dedicated to European authors and philosophers whom are well known in the West but little known in Eastern countries. Sometimes I honestly feel as if the Church has abandoned her Asian children.

That is simply not true.
Africa and Asia are the two regions where Catholicism is growing fastest.
I live in the Philippines, have been to Mass in many Asian countries and have many Asian Catholic friends and none of them would support your view.