President Bush and the Shintos

A report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media.  This week’s item is from Assist News Service, February 19, 2002 with a headline: “Bush Worship at Shinto Temple Troubles Christians in Japan and U.S.”When President Bush entered the ornately beautiful ShintoTemple erected to house the spirits of the late Emperor Meiji, he clapped once and bowed deeply following the common etiquette of worship at such shrines.At the same time the Prime Minister of Japan was left sitting in the car forbidden from entering the shrine by a post-war constitution written by the U. S.“The Prime Minister of Japan is forbidden by their constitution from even participating in the Shinto religion because it’s emperor worship that led to WWII,” says Dr. Robert Morey, Founder of California Institute of Apologetics.“So the Prime Minister stayed in the limo while Bush and his wife went into the temple and clapped to awaken the demon and then bowed in worship and signed the book of worship,” says Dr. Morey referring to the Bush Temple visit made February 18^th as part of his Asia tour.“It was an act of idolatry,” says Kiyomasa Akashi, with Logos Ministries in Tokyo. “Even worse, it was an official, public idol worship,” Akashi says. “He did bow before the shrine where the Meiji Emperor is enshrined as a god.”Sadly, many Japanese and Korean Christians were severely persecuted because they refused to participate in Shinto rituals, which involved bowing down and worshipping the emperor and other false gods. For the most part, American Christians who admire President Bush hope and believe he acted innocently, out of respect for local customs and traditions. But Japanese Christian leaders do not take it lightly. “According to the Shinto ritual, clapping hands and bows are the set of Shinto style of worship,” says Rev. Isaac Ishiguro, of the historic Mino Mission in Japan. “In Japan all the media reported, ‘Bush Sanpaied at Meiji shrine.’” he says. “The verb ‘Sanpai’ in Japanese means, san—visit or go, and pai—worship.”The Japanese news media clearly reported Bush’s ‘worship,’ in direct contrast to Prime Minister Koizumi’s restraint. Before Bush left he signed a special book—which appears to be more than just a registry. “If you sign the book, it means you actually did worship the god, not simply visit the site,” says Akashi. “The record remains in the shrine for a long period of time.”“Christian leaders and missionaries in Japan sent letters of warning and petition to the White House and the U. S. Embassy,” says Akashi, which apparently were unheeded. The White House declined to comment on this story. A State Department official said President Bush merely went to pay his respects and that he "was not involved in any religious activities, ceremonies, or rites." The official noted that Presidents Carter and Reagan visited the same shrine.

Tom:

Dave we seem to have either some naiveté here, but especially among our presidents.We’ve talked in the past about President Clinton and his wife Hilary taking communion at a Catholic Church in Africa….

Dave:

This upset the Catholics.They are not supposed to do that.Yes.

Tom:

So what’s going on here?Is this just sort of religious correctness, or…?

Dave:

It’s political correctness Tom.And it really bothers me.You know you wonder whether a real Christian could ever become president.I’m not saying President Bush is not, and I like almost everything that he does.I think he’s a tremendous leader, and certainly the leader we have needed at this time of crisis in our country because of the Islamic attacks on America.On the other hand, how can a man maintain his true Christian separation from the world and the things of this world and other religions when his office calls upon him to make these compromises?Now whether he had to visit this shrine—why did these other presidents visit the shrine?Must a visiting dignitary from another country visit the shrine?I would rather doubt that.How can they make the rules?We made the rules forbidding their officials from even entering the shrine and carrying on this emperor worship which we say had a large part in the war.And indeed it did.The kamikaze pilots were like the terrorists today, the suicide bombers believed that bought them a ticket to heaven and they worshipped the emperor.We debunked that.And now our president goes in and worships the—?He would say he’s not doing that.

Tom:

Right, on the other hand, we have his visit to a mosque in where was it?I believe it was in Washington.We had Ramadan being celebrated at a dinner at the White House.Now why does a president have to make overtures to other religions?I would think you could still be a leader of a country and maintain your own beliefs without somehow trying to opt, maybe co-opt is the word I’m looking for, other religions for the sake of what?

Dave:

Furthermore Tom, you would have a good basis for doing it.Because in America we have separated religion from the state.The state is not to enact a religion that the Congress and so forth.And so Bush, or whatever president could simply say, “We don’t mix religion with politics.They don’t allow me to push Christianity, promote Christianity.Why should I be promoting Ramadan?Why should I be promoting Islam?”Furthermore, that gives a false impression.These are false religions and Islam is not peace.We’ve talked about that and why the President would ever say that, I would like to know one example of when Islam ever brought peace.It has brought nothing but war.You see it right there in Afghanistan.You see it in Algeria.They’ve killed about 100,000 in the last ten years.It’s a civil war between Muslims.Iran and Iraqi War, I mean on and on it goes.You tell me where, I would like to know where it has ever brought peace.Why do you have to say that?You do not have to say that.You don’t have to give a false impression and promote a false religion.

Tom:

So again, my question is why does a president of the United States, elected by certainly a plurality.In this country we have lots of different religions.Why would you appeal to religions?I mean he has appealed to Roman Catholics.Is this just for the sake of vote?I don’t know.

Dave:

Well of course, in Japan it wouldn’t be for the sake of vote, because there’s not that many Japanese—

Tom:

But it’s world influence.

Dave:

It’s world diplomacy.But I think you could separate it.But I don’t know, and I’m not going to judge the President.I pray for him and I think he’s doing a great job.On the other hand, maybe the State Department has a lot to do with this.I think they do.

Tom:

Dave, my concern here is that as a professing Christian, he ought to be a little bit more discerning about his beliefs because he is affecting other believers, others who claim to know Christ in what he does.

Dave:

And you can’t take an act that is recognized to be worship of a false god—you can’t take that lightly.You can’t enter into that lightly.