This paper examines the attitudes and thoughts of Japanese Protestants to the Buddhist altar, burning incense and graveyard. This paper considers the Buddhist altar as a symbol of ancestor worship, burning incense as a prayer for the souls of the dead, and graveyard as a place of ultimate family belonging for the living. As rites have not only religious but also cultural influences, it is difficult for Japanese Christians to be disassociated. Therefore, Japanese Protestants react diversely to death rituals and connections between the traditional culture and Christianity are found. The subjects of this study are Protestants over the age of fifty who are members of four churches in Mishima city and two churches in Shizuoka city and have been influenced by both traditional culture and Christianity culture. This paper reveals three things. Firstly, there are many cases where Protestants in Mishima city and Shizuoka city have alter-natives to the Buddhist altar such as pictures of the dead, flowers and crosses. Secondly, they undergo a mental conflict deciding whether burning incense is a prayer for the souls of the dead or just a folk tradition. Thirdly, they tend to believe that the grave of family member is much more important than churchyard.

第2部 民俗宗教から観光研究まで
投稿論文