Makuya

Makuya ( 幕 屋 ) , also called Makuya of Christ ( キリストの幕屋 , Kirisuto no makuya ) and based at the Tokyo Bible Seminary, is a religious movement of Bible believers founded in 1948 by a devout Christian, Ikurō Teshima . To grasp the inner truth of biblical religion, or the “Love of the Holy Spirit” as Teshima puts it, and to extol this existential love by embodying it and living accordingly is the essence of the Makuyas’ religious life. They are fervently identified with the cause of Israel, conceiving the establishment of the State of Israel and the unification of Jerusalem as a fulfillment of biblical prophecies. “Makuya” is the Japanese equivalent for the Hebrew word mishkan , which refers to the Holy Tabernacle , the portable shrine where God and man encounter (Exodus 29:42-43). This name aptly captures the basic religious orientation of the Makuyas, who emphasize the significance of the personal, ineffable encounter with the Divine Presence in everyday life. This experience, according to them, must not, and indeed cannot, be substituted by a dogmatic belief in creeds or a stabilization of a religious institution; hence, the idea of the "portable" shrine, the Holy Tabernacle. The Makuyas stress “a return to the dynamic faith of the original Gospel of early Hebraic Christianity, as opposed to the dogmatic, institutionalized, European-dominated churches.” In their view, when biblical religion was introduced to the Hellenistic world, its lively spirit was interpreted within Greek logic and eventually replaced by a set of theological creeds. The Makuyas, thus, seek to restore this original spirit by returning to its Hebrew roots, and learning the Bible accordingly. The Makuyas are concerned not only about individual salvation but also the spiritual restoration, or enhancement, of each nation and social group. Unlike nearly all other Christians in Japan, the Makuyas, rather, respect their cultural heritage and seek to inspire, or "re-awaken" as they put it, the "existential spirit of the Japanese people." In this respect, many Japanese Shintoists and Buddhists who share the same concern support Makuya’s cause. Further, the Makuyas do not seek to proselytize to such believers of other religions, nor urge them to become Makuya members, for the Makuyas believe in religious pluralism, tolerance, and coexistence. In this sense, Makuya is best viewed, as they themselves see it, not as a “sect” but as a “movement,” not as an “exclusive” but an “inclusive” group. Unlike other Christians, which use the cross as their symbol, the Makuyas take the seven-armed biblical menorah as their religious emblem, and display it on their badge or pendant. They prefer the menorah to the cross, viewing the latter as a symbol of “suffering” while the former, of “hope.” The Makuyas have developed, or incorporated, a number of religious observances, customs and rituals. They also engage in convocations, marriage ceremonies, pilgrimages, and ritual costume and hairstyles. Today, the Makuya movement has about a hundred branches all over the world, including Japan, Israel, United States, Canada, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Indonesia. Following, in part, the biblical tradition (2 Samuel 24), the movement does not conduct any census; hence, the exact number of its members remains unknown. It is known, however, that about 300,000 copies of its major magazine, The Light of Life , is subscribed to and issued every month.

Makuya ( 幕 屋 ) , also called Makuya of Christ ( キリストの幕屋 , Kirisuto no makuya ) and based at the Tokyo Bible Seminary, is a religious movement in Japan founded in 1948 by Ikurō Teshima . To grasp the inner truth of Biblical religion, or the "Love of the Holy Spirit" as Teshima puts it, and to extol this existential love by embodying it and living accordingly is the essence of the Makuyas' religious life. They are fervently identified with the cause of Israel, conceiving the establishment of the State of Israel and the unification of Jerusalem as essentially a fulfillment of biblical prophecies. "Makuya" is the Japanese equivalent for the Hebrew word mishkan , which refers to the Holy Tabernacle , the portable shrine where God and man encounter (Exodus 29:42–43). This name aptly captures the basic religious orientation of the Makuyas, who emphasize the significance of the personal, ineffable encounter with the Divine Presence in everyday life. This experience, according to them, must not, and indeed cannot, be substituted by a dogmatic belief in creeds or a stabilization of a religious institution; hence, the idea of the "portable" shrine, the Holy Tabernacle.

Makuya members visiting Israel Makuya ( 幕 屋 ) , based at the Tokyo Bible Seminary, is a religious movement in Japan founded in 1948 by Ikurō Teshima . To grasp the inner truth of biblical religion, or the "Love of the Holy Spirit" as Teshima puts it, and to extol this existential love by embodying it and living accordingly is the essence of the Makuyas' religious life. "Makuya" is the Japanese equivalent for the Hebrew word משכן mishkan , which refers to the Holy Tabernacle , the portable shrine where God and man encounter (Exodus 29:42–43). This name aptly captures the basic religious orientation of the Makuyas, who emphasize the significance of the personal, ineffable encounter with the divine presence in everyday life. This experience, according to them, must not, and indeed cannot, be substituted by a dogmatic belief in creeds or a stabilization of a religious institution; hence, the idea of the "portable" shrine, the Holy Tabernacle.

Japanese religious movement Makuya members visiting Israel Makuya ( 幕 屋 ) , based at the Tokyo Bible Seminary, is a religious movement in Japan which was founded in 1948 by Ikurō Teshima . To grasp the inner truth of biblical religion, or the "Love of the Holy Spirit " as Teshima puts it, and extol this existential love by embodying it and living accordingly is the essence of the Makuyas' religious life. "Makuya" is the Japanese equivalent of the Hebrew word משכן mishkan , which refers to the Holy Tabernacle , the portable shrine where God and man encounter (Exodus 29:42–43). This name aptly captures the basic religious orientation of the Makuyas, who emphasize the significance of the personal, ineffable encounter with the divine presence in everyday life. This experience, according to them, must not, and indeed cannot, be substituted by a dogmatic belief in creeds or a stabilization of a religious institution; hence, the idea of the "portable" shrine, the Holy Tabernacle.

Japanese religious movement Makuya members visiting Israel Makuya ( 幕 屋 ) , based at the Tokyo Bible Seminary, is a new religious movement in Japan founded in 1948 by Ikurō Teshima . Its members' goal is to grasp the inner truth of "biblical religion", or the "love of the Holy Spirit " as Teshima puts it, and extol this love by embodying it and living accordingly. "Makuya" is the Japanese equivalent of the Hebrew word משכן mishkan , which refers to the Tabernacle , the portable shrine wherein God spoke to humans in Exodus 29 :42–43. The term captures the basic religious orientation of the Makuyas, who emphasize the significance of the personal encounter with the divine presence in everyday life. This experience, according to the group's theology, must not be substituted by creeds or a religious institution—hence, the idea of the "portable" shrine, the Tabernacle.