Abstract
Past research has indicated that Japanese Christians have inconsistent narratives regarding shukyo (religion) and have
taken multiple subject positions. The purpose of this study is to examine, using positioning theory, the way they deal
with conflict in contradictive narratives. On examining their narratives, it is evident that informants conceal
contradiction by relying on the temporal nature of narratives. It was also found that they dealt with the moral order (a
set of rules on a particular position) on religion in Japanese society through personal positioning, which is the speech
act to emphasize their individuality. By examining personal positioning, we found that speech acts can indicate the
essential identity of the each narrator, make them position"sanctuary," and free them from the constraints set up by
social roles. In modern society, an individual is impacted simultaneously in various contexts, but his/her identity is
singular. For examining "individuality" in modern society, it is useful to consider individual’s speech acts, which
indicate the essential identity in narratives that involve various positions.
