The religious consciousness and activities of contemporary Japanese women

The role of women in religion continues to be laden with contradictions. Although it is often women who maintain religious practices in the family and are most zealous in proselytization, organizational structures are overwhelmingly male-dominated. This paper examines the results of a survey of religious consciousness and practice among women in two Japanese religious groups, Rissh6 K6seikai and the Episcopal Church of apan, focusing on the issues of individual faith, family practice, and traditional concerns relating to ancestral rites. The analysis indicates the degree and direction of change in the attitudes and practices of these women, and the reasons why male dominance has never been challenged by them.