The Gist of Japan: The Islands, Their People, and MissionsPeery, R. B. (Rufus Benton)
Religion
The Gist of Japan: The Islands, Their People, and Missions
Peery, R. B. (Rufus Benton)
Japan -- Social life and customs; Missions -- Japan
After the men are supplied, how shall they be trained for work? Shall
instruction be given in Japanese only, or shall English be taught also?
(For full discussion of this question see Chapter XIII.) Shall Greek
and Hebrew be studied? How far shall the native religions be taught?
Shall the curriculum in other respects be about what it is at home, or
shall it be modified and especial stress laid upon certain subjects?
Shall students study privately with the missionaries, or shall
theological seminaries be erected? Shall students be encouraged to
complete their theological training in Europe and America? Space does
not permit a discussion of each of these questions, but only a bare
statement of the consensus of judgment and practice in Japan after
years of experience.
Shall instruction in the original languages of Scripture be given? As
to the desirability of this there can be no question; but as the whole
science of theology is entirely new here, and a study of its more
important branches requires a long time, it has not been customary to
give instruction in either of these languages. In recent years some
seminaries have been trying to {298} introduce primary courses in Greek
and Hebrew, and as the schools grow older, and their equipment
improves, these languages will gradually be added to the curriculum.
Shall the religious systems and books of Japan be taught in theological
schools? It is highly desirable that native ministers clearly
understand and be able intelligently to combat the false religions
around them; and to this end some seminaries give instruction in the
doctrines of Buddhism and Shinto as well as Christianity. In one or
two instances Buddhism is taught in Christian theological schools by
Buddhist priests, but it is usually taught by Christian teachers in
connection with dogmatic theology. As a rule, the native ministry
desires more thorough instruction in the native religions, while the
missionaries oppose any extension of the curriculum in that direction.
In general the same branches of theology are taught here that are
taught at home. It is especially desirable that instruction in
dogmatics and apologetics be thorough and sound, and these branches
should perhaps be emphasized more than others.
Experience has proved that it is much better to have theological
schools where the native ministry may be instructed than for the
missionary to undertake such instruction in private. All the larger
missions have fairly well-equipped {299} theological schools, and
private instruction is only given by a few men whose missions have not
yet been able to establish these. It is unfortunate, both for the
student and for the missionary, when theological instruction must be
given in private.
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