Great Construction

Super Religion (Chijōtengoku 6)

     The motto of World Messianity, that is, the construction of paradise on earth, a world free of disease, poverty, and conflict, will probably seem like the dream of a dunce to most of the general public. To be sure, Christ said that the kingdom of heaven was approaching, but he did not say that he would build it. Shakyamuni said that after the fall of Buddhism would appear the world of Maitreya, that the world of Maitreya would come after 5.67 billion years, an absurdly long time, but he did not say that the world of Maitreya was drawing near at hand. Members of the Jewish faith pray for the advent of the Messiah, but they have no idea when the Messiah will come. Deep consideration must be given to the fact that legends from old such as those in India of the emergence of the Rolling-Wheel Boddhisattva, and those in Japan of the world of sweet nectar prophesied by the Tenri Church, of the world of justice for farmers of the Nichiren sects, and the mention of the world of pine by the co-founder of Omoto did not specify a certain time. All these prophecies were of great assistance, but it must be also understood that the fact that declarations of realization and actual plans were not formulated was because the time was premature. But also in this way, it is known by all that what the founder of each religion and sect taught and put into practice became the basis of their respective faiths on which each was able to grow to what they are today.
     Of course, what each religious leader started and spread, whether in stated doctrine, forms, methods, and so forth is compatible with each nation and nation-state in the world, so it is needless to say that the means required and methods appropriate for each age, in each region, for that nation, for their traditions, to their customs were all initiated under the intent of the Creator. It is through that power that there has been obtained the magnificent culture that exists today. Suppose that if in each nation, religion had not come about, the rampant swaggering about of the devil would know no limits, and the world may already have been destroyed and ruined. When these various aspects are considered, the achievements of each of the founders of religions, denominations, and sects probably can never be valued highly enough.
     Even if the power of existing religions was able to slow down to a certain degree destruction of the world as previously described, for the world today and for the world hereafter, it is doubtful whether that power can continue to be useful. That is because, for world humanity to be able to make the jump into a paradisaical state from the continual cries of suffering in the agonies of hell now would be difficult for the power of existing religions which is well illustrated by the fact that they lack sufficient power to save even at present. In truth, this fact is obvious when we see that the blessings of the brilliant culture we bathe in today are limited to one section of nations. Thus, humanity’s sufferings of today stem from a lack of a peaceful spirit in which there are too many victims of conflict.
     As described above, when the contemporary world is observed, considerate, sensible people cannot help but hope that the time must come for the appearance of a great ray of divine light to extinguish this ignorance and darkness. That light is, in other words, the salvation of a super religion.
     It is in this sense that we are aware that we bear the responsibility of a super religion as we continue to show astonishing results from the activities that we steadily undertake.

Chijōtengoku, Issue 6, page 9, July 20, 1949
translated by cynndd

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“Chōshūkyō” was published originally on page 9 of Chijōtengoku, Issue 6, July 20, 1949. Within half a year, Meishu-sama would make several changes, particularly in the second half of the essay, to include “Chōshūkyō” in Volume 12 of Jikan Sōsho (Jikan Library) titled Jikan Setsuwashū [literally, “Narratives of Jikan”] (Narratives), published on January 30, 1950 [1950/E25-040, this site]. While Meishu-sama was still alive, the newspaper version was included in the essays anthology for ministers Goshinsho: Shūkyō-hen (Divine Writings: Volume on Religion), March 25, 1954, page 216. The newspaper version of “Chōshūkyō” has appeared in translation. Citation is given below for reference.

“A Faith That Transcends Religion,” Foundation of Paradise, 1984, page 15.