Dan Reff
Professor of Comparative Studies
The Ohio State University
“Why Mexico and Not Japan: Jesuit Missionaries and Conversion to Christianity During the Sixteenth Century”
The talk focuses on the 16th century Jesuit mission enterprise in Mexico and Japan, showing how conversion to Christianity in the former was predicated on the collapse and fragmentation of Indian societies as a result of epidemics of Old World disease that were coincident with the arrival of Europeans. Although the arrival of the Portuguese in 16th century Japan contributed to significant changes, Japan experienced no population or cultural collapse coincident with the arrival of Europeans. Shinto and Buddhism, while dynamic and implicated in power struggles that alienated commoners, nevertheless remained alive and mostly well, providing the Japanese with beliefs, practices, and opportunities to realize fulfillment in this life and the next. Thus, after a brief “flirtation” with Christianity, the Japanese abandoned the Jesuits and Christianity.
Reception to follow
All are welcome
For more information, contact the Center at 688-8010 or spitulski.1@osu.edu
**Public parking is available next door at the Ohio Union South Parking Garage with entrance from either High Street or College Road. For additional information, please visit www.campusparc.com/osu/garages.**
