Panel name
Engaged Buddhism in Japan

Name and affiliation of panel convener
Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya, Nagoya City University (Japan)

Panel abstract
The term "Engaged Buddhism" refers to the involvement of Buddhists in politics, social welfare, environment, peace movements etc. This panel intends to focus on the social activism of Buddhist groups (traditional Buddhist sects as well as new religions of Buddhist origin) in Japan. Although the study of Engaged Buddhism has been a vibrant field of research in the West as well as in other Asian countries, it has drawn very little academic attention in Japan. This lack of interest in studying the social activism of Buddhist organizations in Japan partly emerges from the popular image of Japanese Buddhism being 'dis-engaged' and unconcerned about social issues. However, in Japan too we find various instances of Buddhist participation in politics, world peace movements, voluntary activities etc. What is the nature of social engagement of Buddhist organizations in Japan? How Engaged Buddhism in Japan is distinct from those in other countries? These are some of the issues that this panel would like to deal with. We would like to invite all those who are interested in social engagements of Japanese Buddhism to join us for a lively discussion.

Panelists and presentation titles
Ranjana Mukhopadhyaya, Nagoya City University (Convenor and Panelists)
Paper title: Patterns of Social Engagements of Japanese Buddhism. (Tentative)

Robert Kisala, Nanzan University (Panelists)
Paper title: Peace movements of Buddhist organizations in Japan (Tentative)

Jonathan Watts, Jodo Shu Research Institute of Buddhism
NGO, Voluntary Activities and Social engagements of Japanese Buddhism (Tentative)

Noriyuki Ueda, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Presenter)
Paper title: Social activism and Revival of Japanese Buddhism (Tentative)

Respondents
This panel is looking out for a Respondent and/or Panelists.

Language(s) to be used in panel
English

An e-mail address where potential panelists can contact you
ranjanayaya@yahoo.com ranjana@hum.nagoya-cu.ac.jp

Panel name
Christianity at Crossroads: Seeking Asian Identities from a Theological
Perspective

Convener
Dr. Anri Morimoto (International Christian University, Japan)

Panelists and presentation titles
Dr. Po Ho Huang (Tainan Theological College & Seminary, Taiwan)
Dr. Philip Leung Yuen-sang (Chinese University of Hong Kong--tentative)
Dr. Fumitaka Matsuoka (Pacific School of Religion, U.S.A.)
Dr. Anri Morimoto (International Christian University, Japan)

The original panelists plus three more would make two consecutive sessions.

Panel abstract
This panel is for theologians and historians interested in exchanging their views on the cultural dimensions of Christianity in Asia. As the demography of the world Christian population changes dramatically, careful re-examinations are called for with regard to the past reflections on the supposedly distinctive character of Asian Christianity. How do we define "Asia" in a theololgical perspective while giving due respect to the
changing and diverse realities that Christians living in Asia experience?
What will our findings be when we use our fragile, sometimes marginalized or diasporic, identity formation as interpretive keys beyond obvious or implicit "orientalism"? Inquiring into Asian identities from the Christian perspective will in turn stimulate inquiries into Christian identities from the Asian perspective. Where and how do we locate Asia in the cumulative two-millennium history of Christianity? What are the elements that compose the Christian identity amidst the multi-layered religious settings commonly found in Asia? These are some sample questions for discussion. The panel solicits qualified presenters and respondents, especially those with Chinese, Korean or Japanese aspects in focus.

Language to be used in panel
English

Contact
sendyourmailshere@yahoo.com

Title
The Dialogue among Religious Discourses in Brazil

Abstract
The purpose of this panel is to perform an interdisciplinary analysis of the various religious discourses co-existing within the Brazilian setting. Using case studies, we will be able to observe the result of the religious dialogue and the symbolic migrations that occur among religions.

Taking as a starting point the presumption that the phenomenon of religion cannot be entirely explained by isolated analyses, we propose as a theoretical reference point the concept of Hybridism applied by Nestor Canclini and later by Hommi Bhabha, in conjunction with the historical notion of Walter Benjamim. The latter of these will refer us directly to the question of local religions and their cultural dynamics. To paraphrase
Marc-Auge: culture is not all about religion, but religion is all about culture.

Before this theoretical framework, we will attempt to reveal the dynamic of religious discourse and its representation in Brazil.

Participants

convener
Maria de Lourdes Beldi de Alcantara. University of Sao Paulo and Mikael Rothstein University of Copenhagen
Panelists
Maria de Lourdes Beldi de Alcantara. University of Sao Paulo and Mikael
Rothstein University of Copenhagen (Convenor and Panelists)
Silas Guerriero .Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo (tentative)
Renato Ortiz. Universidade de Campinas (tentative)
Otavio Velho. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (tentative)
Respondent
Ralph Della Cava. Columbia University (itentative)

Language(s) to be used in panel
English

Contact
loubeldi@uol.com.br

Panel name
Music and Religion in the Middle East: The Ambiguity of Boundaries between the Sacred and the Secular in the Usage of Melodies, Texts, and Musical Conceptions

Name and affiliation of panel convener
Dr. Kumiko Yayama (Toho University, Japan)

Panel abstract
Reciprocal threads connect music and religion in human cultures around the world. Various aspects of this mutual influence have left their mark on the musical cultures of Muslims, Christians and Jews in the Middle East. On the subject of singing and music making in the socio-religious setting, the issue of distinguishing sacred music from secular music has been a crucial issue in Jewish thought. However, there is no clear-cut division between the religious and the secular in the musical activities of Middle Eastern Jewish communities, wherein the use of secular melodies on ritual occasions is one of the most outstanding musical phenomena. In this panel we will illustrate the ambiguity of the boundary between the sacred and the secular as appears in the musical cultures of the Middle East. In addition, we will discuss
secular/religious music as a symbol of the nations and as a building of ethnic identities.

Language to be used in panel:
English

Panelists
Prof. Dr. Edwin Seroussi (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel)
Mrs. Lasa Iino (Tokyo University, Japan)

Contact
kumikoyym616@crux.ocn.ne.jp