Great Construction

Fanaticism

      This is an account I heard after I joined Omoto. At the time that Omoto was founded, the center of faith were the prophetic writings of the founder, Nao Deguchi, and because of that focus each phrase and each letter of the prophetic writings were not to be overlooked. It was intolerable because there was a group of members who took these words literally and put them into practice. As a result, there came about a comedy that could be called funny if it were not so serious.
     This incident from those days happened in the town of Ayabe, the birthplace of Omoto, and is noteworthy because of the following. Several people brandishing lit lanterns in broad daylight, paraded majestically and imposingly right down the middle of a large street. They would not get out of the way either of bicycles or of automobiles. The townspeople were severely inconvenienced and cautioned the paraders, but they would not heed the warnings. “We are doing exactly what the prophetic writings say to do. This is God’s wish,” the paraders firmly maintained. It is a true story that seems as if it had been made up. The part of the prophetic writings that they were referring to says this: “The world now is a world of darkness, so it is so dangerous you can’t walk without a lantern.” In another place, it says, “The path of Omoto is one right down the middle, so God will not listen to the prayers of persons who pass along the edge of the path. The paraders were carrying out these verses to the letter.

Assorted Reflections, page 73, August 30, 1949
    translated by cynndd