Congress member represents Buddhist sect
Daniel Burke/Religion News Service
Issue date: 2/12/07 Section: Divine Intervention
Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga. - one of the first Buddhists ever elected to Congress - seems to have slipped in through a side door while all eyes were focused on the first Muslim ever elected. Johnson, however, may prefer the spotlight to remain on his Muslim colleague, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. A spokeswoman said Johnson "considers [his religion] a private matter. He will not give interviews on his faith."
Still, the 52-year-old's election last fall is a history-making moment, both for Congress and for Soka Gakkai International-USA, the lay Buddhist sect Johnson's been a member of for 30 years. (Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, the other Buddhist elected last fall, has said she was raised Buddhist but does not actively practice the religion.)
Soka Gakkai now claims 100,000 U.S. members, most of whom are American converts, according to spokesman Bill Aiken. Fifteen percent are, like Johnson, African American, a rare display of diversity among U.S. Buddhist groups. According to scholars' best estimates, there are about 2.5 million to 3 million Buddhists in the U.S.; approximately 800,000 are American converts. The religion boasts an estimated 8 million members in Japan.
"Everyone knows that Soka Gakkai is the only form of convert Buddhism that has any kind of diversity," said Richard Hughes Seager, professor of religion at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., and author of a book on Soka Gakkai. "Now everyone wants to know: what are they doing right?"
Initially, fellow Buddhists viewed Soka Gakkai skeptically when it took root in America in the 1960s and '70s. The early Japanese evangelists seemed to be peddling a kind of "prosperity dharma" - not unlike the prosperity gospel popular in some U.S. churches - in which chanting a phrase was presumed to lead to material benefits. The group's aggressive proselytism and gaudy patriotic displays didn't help.
But as its membership rolls filled with U.S. citizens, Soka Gakkai adjusted its approach. Now its diversity, organizational strength and growing numbers are the envy of other U.S. Buddhist groups.
Still, the 52-year-old's election last fall is a history-making moment, both for Congress and for Soka Gakkai International-USA, the lay Buddhist sect Johnson's been a member of for 30 years. (Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, the other Buddhist elected last fall, has said she was raised Buddhist but does not actively practice the religion.)
Soka Gakkai now claims 100,000 U.S. members, most of whom are American converts, according to spokesman Bill Aiken. Fifteen percent are, like Johnson, African American, a rare display of diversity among U.S. Buddhist groups. According to scholars' best estimates, there are about 2.5 million to 3 million Buddhists in the U.S.; approximately 800,000 are American converts. The religion boasts an estimated 8 million members in Japan.
"Everyone knows that Soka Gakkai is the only form of convert Buddhism that has any kind of diversity," said Richard Hughes Seager, professor of religion at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., and author of a book on Soka Gakkai. "Now everyone wants to know: what are they doing right?"
Initially, fellow Buddhists viewed Soka Gakkai skeptically when it took root in America in the 1960s and '70s. The early Japanese evangelists seemed to be peddling a kind of "prosperity dharma" - not unlike the prosperity gospel popular in some U.S. churches - in which chanting a phrase was presumed to lead to material benefits. The group's aggressive proselytism and gaudy patriotic displays didn't help.
But as its membership rolls filled with U.S. citizens, Soka Gakkai adjusted its approach. Now its diversity, organizational strength and growing numbers are the envy of other U.S. Buddhist groups.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 15
Mike Bennett
posted 2/13/07 @ 12:14 PM EST
As an SGI-USA member, I find this article to be more well-informed and balanced than most. It's definitely true that one can begin this practicee of Nichiren Buddhism by chanting for a job, or a car, or money and ACTUALLY GET IT (one of my first 'test experiences' in 1981 was chanting for money when a promised job fell through; the result was - within a week - getting on a game-show and winnning $28,000. (Continued…)
Junichiro Kaeda
posted 2/13/07 @ 3:23 PM EST
One more congressperson with a tendency towards magical thinking will hardly tip the boat of state. Buddhism is a philosophy, when it becomes a religion I find there's usually some ego lurking behind all the incantations, scrolls, rules and trinkets. (Continued…)
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posted 12/28/08 @ 12:59 AM EST
This is a very well written article.Easy to follow.I am happy that I came across this.Thank you.
b. donnell
posted 1/04/09 @ 11:34 PM EST
Buddhism is not a religion. It is a code for living, promoting kindness nonviolence, humility and the elimination of suffering. 99 percent of Thais are Buddhists. (Continued…)
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