白光真宏会・五井昌久の「神義論」

苦難の解釈をめぐって

抄録

This paper focuses on the concept of “theodicy” by Masahisa Goi, the founder of the new Japanese religious group Byakko Shinkokai. Although many “theodicies” have been expressed in different contexts previously, I would like to especially pick up the “theodicies” of Max Weber and Masahisa Goi. Max Weber defined his concept of“ theodicy of sufferings” as of three different types: Zoroastrian dualism, the Calvinist understanding of the hidden God, and the Indian doctrine of karma. 　 Comparing Weber’s concept with Goi’s interpretation of hardship, a similarity between their views is seen. In brief, their idea about karma is particularly similar, though there are some differences with regard to its explanation. Goi says that suffering is a result of karma from past lives; however, this karma fades away through suffering in the present life. Goi even considered death of the flesh in a positive manner. According to his doctrine, which includes the idea of a spiritual world, the spirit that is purified through suffering will ascend to a higher spiritual world. As a result, suffering does not translate to complete despair. With this in mind, I consider the views of Masahisa Goi’s “theodicy” to be unique in his understanding of the concept.