J-CATS Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies

Today we talk with pastor Matsuda again, this time about the traditional 'go to heaven' approach to evangelism. What is 'eternal life'? What about 'eternal life' is appealing to Japanese compared to what is appealing to Western believers? Also, how to engage Japanese on issues of disagreement between Christianity and native religions! you can email Jon at jcatsjapan@gmail.c...

Today we talk with Pastor Matsuda, who serves at an international church in Tokyo, and also meets with 'seekers' who don't know how to approach the traditional church due to fears of overbearing leadership, cult behavior and post-COVID anxiety. He ministers to these 'hiding seekers' through SNS, Twitter and Zoom. He also runs RAC-Network (Rethinking Authentic Christianity), whe...

Today Jon goes over 'the first significant communication of authentic, first-rate Japanese theology to the West." Kazoh Kitamori's Theology of the Pain of God is widely viewed in the global theological community as a theology that comes from a deep understanding of Japanese thought. On the other hand, for various reasons, it isn't very popular in Japanese churches. So should missi...

Today we speak with Tsuji Sensei, a 33 year old pastor about a contextualized theological education delivery system, felt needs of Japanese young people, and cooperation between pastors and missionaries, Also Kohei joins us, and we ask the audience, 'what do you do with Judas?'

Jon checks a sample gospel presentation for potential contextual difficulties with a Japanese teacher. Topics discussed include:  1. Original Sin  2. the gap between a good God and bad people  3. Substitution   4. The Afterlife  5. Forgiveness

Dr. Kai Akagi gives an overview of the Sapporo Band, a group the first generation of protestants in Japan including Kanzo Uchimura and Inazo Nitobe (author of Bushido). Recommended book: A History of Japanese Theology, edited by Yasuo Furuya

Dr. Kai Akagi joins us again for a second round of first generation protestants in Japan, as we take a look at the Kumamoto band, Ebina Danjo and the beginning of Doshisha University. Also, a fighting Samurai woman who was the first 'Christian bride' in Japanese history!

Want a college level Japanese church history lesson? Kai adjuncts at various universities and seminaries in Japan, and has taught Japanese Church history at Sophia University. Today, Kai talks about the early Japanese protestant 'bands' of Christians popping up in various places, and focuses on the 'Yokohama band' and the first protestant church in Japan.

In this episode Jon chats with Kohei, a Japanese man who has spent about half of his life in Japan, and half overseas. He is currently a missionary to Japan, sent from churches in the States. Kohei shares some thoughts on what influenced him to become a Christian, and his impression of the church in Japan after coming to Christ overseas (but through Japanese influences).  Mentions: Muira Ayak...

In Episode 2 we look at various portions of Kosuke Koyama's Water Buffalo Theology

Welcome to JCATS! Japanese Contextual and Theological Studies, 日本人から聞く日本のキリスト教、Learning about Japanese Christianity from Japanese people. This podcast exists to search out contextualization practices and ideas from Japanese literature, history and conversations with Japanese people, to help missionaries present Christianity in a non-foreign way. In this first episode we discuss wha...