ORANGE, CALIFORNIA (ANS) -- When President Bush entered the ornately
beautiful Shinto Temple 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 postwar 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 World War II," says Dr. Robert Morey, author of over 40
books dealing with false religions, cults and philosophies, and
founder of the 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 as part of his Asia tour.
Emperor Meiji ruled Japan from 1850-1914, during its transformation
from feudalism to modernity. He set Japan on a course toward World War
II by promoting a revitalized Shintoism that favored emperor worship
and the removal of foreign influences from Japan.
"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.
"Japanese Christians are furious," Dr. Morey says. "They were killed
because they wouldn't bow before the image of the emperor," he says.
"Korean Christians had their hands chopped off because they wouldn't
bow and worship the emperor," he adds. Korea was ruled as a colony of
Japan between 1910-1945. "Their descendants see the Bushes making a
mockery of those who, like Daniel and his three friends, refused to
bow before a heathen idol."
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."
Some see Shintoism as a quaint cultural tradition, but others
disagree. "Shinto has existed for a long time of history," says
Akashi, "but it's not a culture nor tradition of the Japanese
people—it's a religion and a cult."
"Because of an ultra-long recession of the Japanese economy, the
government is swiftly reviving the old Shinto nationalism in order to
gain national pride," Akashi adds. "Kids in public elementary and high
schools as well as teachers are now being forced to sing Kimigayo
("Praise Song of the Emperor") and salute the Hinomaru flag (to the
sun goddess Amateratsu) at graduation ceremonies."
"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.
In the aftermath of September 11, amid Bush's efforts to show respect
for other faiths—particularly Islam, some see a drift toward
universalism, which denies the exclusiveness of Christianity. Another
example was Bush's mosque visit immediately after the attacks on the
World Trade Center.
"He used the code word when he went to worship in the mosque," Dr.
Morey says. "He said, ‘I worship with you the universal God.'"
Many believers would find it difficult to believe President Bush is
drifting into universalism, which blurs the distinction between the
God of the Bible and the Allah of Islam. In universalism, "All the
gods of all the religions are masks on Popsicle sticks that he puts in
front of his face," Dr. Morey says. "So it doesn't matter if you're
worshipping Shiva with the Hindus or Jehovah with the Jews or Jesus or
Allah."
"Since the 1970s, the locus of universalism has been the plurality of
religions," according to Donald Dunavant, Ph.D., with the Mid-America
Baptist Theological Seminary. "All exclusive language, in which truth
claims are asserted about the uniqueness of Christ…is regarded as
arrogant and divisive in relationship to other faiths," he adds.
"Universalism promotes dialogue with other faiths that both
acknowledges their legitimacy and affirms that love embraces all
peoples of all times."
Such thinking seems to dominate popular culture. "The politically
correct people are in charge of the public school systems, the
universities, and the media," Dr. Morey says. "They have brainwashed
President Bush to believe all religions worship the same universal
God."
"That's why he has no difficulty worshipping in a mosque with the
Muslims or in a Shinto temple in Japan," Dr Morey adds. Many
believers will hope Dr. Morey's concerns and the fears of Japanese
Christians are unfounded, as President Bush continues to live out his
Christian faith in a pluralistic society.
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