Japan's religious community speaks against military attacks

Concerned about the U.S.-led retaliatory war against Afghanistan, Japan's religious community is raising its voice against the armed attacks.

On October 16, the Japanese Association of Religious Organizations, the foundation formally representing Japan's religious circles, published a statement calling on the world's religious people to work for a settlement without resorting to military attacks.

The religious organization comprises most religious orders of Buddhism, Christianity, and Shintoism in Japan. Soka Gakkai is not a member.

The Japan Buddhist Federation on October 11 published a view on behalf of all Buddhists, stating that the problem must be settled by law and non-military action.

Catholics and Protestants published their views in letters and statements emphasizing that the chain of violence and hatred must be ended.

Suzuki Tesshu, director of the Japan Religionists' Council for Peace, said that the religious circles are responding to the terrorist incident and the retaliatory war in the widest ever movement. He said, "Religious people are aware that religion can be a cause of war in the present-day world and that we must speak out for peace." (end)