Great Construction

A Complex Issue

     For religionists such as ourselves to declare at this point that pacifism is an official stance is not necessary, but that being said, there are often times when it is extremely difficult to maintain such a position. This is probably unavoidable. When we observe the world’s current situation, I really do believe we are in one of those times. These days no matter how much we may tout and press for pacifism, although the world currently may not have an iron wall, it is a fact that an iron curtain is facing us about which nothing can be done. If this itself were the only problem, it would still be bearable, but there is an issue here. That is, even if all the nations outside the iron curtain were to conduct themselves in accord with the expectations of pacifism, it should be a matter for concern whether the results of such a situation would really be positive. That is because no one can say that the nations inside the iron curtain will not eventually come to have military power, break through the curtain, and advance on nations outside the curtain. I do believe that when these dangers are considered, unreserved efforts to promote and carry on pacifistic movements really do require serious consideration.
     It can thought to be the same as when this logic is applied to Japan today. That is, to speak of the pros and cons of the present rearmament debate, as can be seen by the fact that for quite a while this issue has been quite contentious while even now national opinion remains divided, and since a decisive conclusion cannot be reached, when we observe the state of the world, the circumstances show how difficult the issue is. Even though president-elect Eisenhower has made it clear that the Korean issue will not be resolved without definitive action, if he were to carry out such measures, they will lead to an expansion of the Korean War. As such action would naturally entail an intensification of the present situation, it may mean, depending on circumstances, that Japan could to a certain extent become involved. In that case, the current controversy about rearmament would disappear at once, so I think that the possibility should be prepared mentally for in advance.
     These are the circumstances in which we as religionists cannot simply wave blindly the banner of pacifism, so here we face a difficult question. Ultimately, we are building a world where such troubling issues do not occur, but at the present, the practical problems are more acute than the ideal, so the issue must be dealt with in the most appropriate way. 

Shin Shûkyô Shinbun (New Religions Newspaper), Issue 26, January 15, 1953
    translated by cynndd