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Aid and Assistance for
Consumer Damages from Religious Activities
Japan Federation of BAR Associations
26 March 1999
Abstract
This report addresses issues raised by the Japanese Parliament's Law on
Religious Corporations, which came into force in September 1996. The Parliament
did not adequately address and debate the problems posed by religious
organizations, considering the overwhelming role religion plays in Japanese
society today and the wide area in which religious organizations are permitted
to conduct their activities. Also lacking is a much-needed examination into what
kind of counter policy would effectively curb the consumer damages and human
rights violations mentioned above. Counter-policies already proposed include the
public safety protection approach and the victim prevention approach. Both of
these, however, would lead to the unjust suppression of religious freedom. Such
approaches must be avoided. Still, at the same time, the current social
system—in which great importance is placed on legal policy and practice and on
the mass media insofar as religious matters are concerned—is deficient. Much
more debate and discussion are needed, especially amongst scholars in relevant
fields and members of religious organizations.
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