I went to a seminar today on the topic of shame, its role in the Japanese culture, and its effects on ministry and christianity in Japan. I feel as though living abroad has taught me as much about my own culture as it has about Japanese culture. I see now that whereas before I had only one point of refrence in my pursuit to understand the world, living abroad has expanded this understanding immensly. Being such, we discussed today what it means to be living in and trying to minister to people of a shame-based culture. While guilt and shame are often assiciated, the differences are distinct. Simply put, "Guilt" is when you feel sorry for what you've done. "Shame" is when you feel badly about who you are. So deeply rooted in a person, it wraps itself around and even strangles feelings of intrensic value and identity one posesses of oneself. Is it any wonder then, that Japan has one of the highest suicide rates world-wide. The source of this structure is difficult to pinpoint, but can be related to the culture of honor and pride within the code of the Bushido. Sense of personal identiy is also somewhat less defined here, as the tendency seems to lean more toward collectivity and conformity- values which in my American upbringing were often opposed. "Dare to be different" a classroom poster said. You'd never see such a message in a Japanese classroom. (I always feel the need to be careful in making cultural comparisons such as this because I have to remind myself that any judgements I might make are coming from my own subjective experience and not an objective reality; meaning, that the last thing I mean to do here is to criticize another culture.)
Having said all of this, there is much hope to be had in the Gospel for people suffering within such intra-personal prisons. Pastor Oshiba spends much of his paper offering christiological direction in addressing these struggles and the challenges they pose to people and faith. Like in all other afflictions and temptations- our Savior is one who himself is not foreign to these sufferings. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). Oshiba also suggests Isaiah 53 as a source of comfort and hope for those living in such bondage. So strong is the theme of shame in this culture, and so powerful is its effect on faith, that the students at the Lutheran seminary here spend a good deal examining its role in their own life and faith as well as how to minister to those who suffer under such burdens. "(Christ is) the eternal companion with suffering people, (and He) provides a powerfully healing way to those who suffer shame." To read the text in full, follow the following link:
http://www4.big.or.jp/~joshiba/message/george/stm.html
