Early historical and political studies: As is often the case in social science research, new fields of study often incorporate anecdotal evidence. Researchers draw conclusions drawn largely from media sources; interviews are important sources of information although they are not collected through validated sampling techniques. English-language anecdotal evidence about the Soka Gakkai began to accumulate in the 1960s and accerated in the 1970s. Among the scholars who contributed to early historical and political literature are: Beasley,[1] Brannen,[2] Hunt,[3] Kitagawa,[4] Ramseyer,[5] Moos,[6] Doherty,[7] McFarland,[8] Murata,[9] and Fujiwara.[10] Early research of the 1960s and 1970s tended to raise alarms about the Soka Gakkai. For example, McFarland critiqued in 1967 that Soka Gakkai is not democratic; it has no parliamentary procedure and no transparency, and he worried that the group is "fascistic."[11]: 217
Exegesis: Exegesis or hermeneutics is often the second wave of social science research. Scholars, their interest often piqued by prior anecdotal research, turn their attention to careful textual analyses of what exactly an organization and/or its leaders say or write. Among the early English language scholars exploring the Soka Gakkai in the 1970s and 1980s through this modality are Epp[12] and Bethel.[13][14][15] Scholars have also studied Ikeda's contributions to peace studies and international relationships.[16][17]
Scholars are still conducting hermeneutical research on the writings of the Soka Gakkai and/or its leaders. Chilson analyzes Ikeda's diaries and autobiographical writings.[18] There is extensive hermeneutical work on Ikeda's writings on education.[19][20]
Qualitative research: Qualitative researchers attempt to collect data broadly through survey and interview methodology. Ethical researchers note the degree of consent, cooperation, and even funding given by of organizations under study so readers are alerted to any implicit bias. Starting in the 1990s, English-language research on the Soka Gakkai, conducted by religious historians and sociologists, began examining constituent organizations of the Soka Gakkai International but included broad discussions about the Soka Gakkai itself. Sociologist Macioti examined the Soka Gakkai in Italy.[21] Sociologists Wilson and Dobbelaire investigated the Soka Gakkai in the United Kingdom.[22] The Soka Gakkai in the United States was studied by Chappell[23] and Hammond and Machacek.[24] Metraux has written about the Soka Gakkai movements in Southeast Asia, Canada, and Australia.[25][26][27] Clarke[28] and Silva[29] have studied the Soka Gakkai movement in Brazil. Fowler and Fowler discuss the Soka Gakkai in Wales[30]
The findings of the above types of research are often tested in smaller and more specific settings through case studies. Researchers, "insiders" who have privileged access to subjects, conduct participant observation. In case studies there is usually much more narrow research questions. Tong examines the phenomenon of conversion in the Singapore Soka Gakkai movement.[31] In an anthropological study Mette discusses the participation of Soka Gakkai youth in the political process.[32] Ionescu conducted field research in Germany to view the process of accommodation.[33] Jayeel Serrano Cornelio discusses the participation of Soka Gakkai youth in the cultural performances.[34] Cornejo's case study of Soka Gakkai members in Spain examines religious accommodation in a predominantly Catholic society.[35]
Interpretative studies: Noted scholars often conduct interpretative studies which combine their prolific experiences and research, extensive literature review, and on-site visits and interviews to develop reflections and theories. Seager[36] and Strand[37] conducted studies on the Soka Gakkai that utilize such methodology.
- ^ Beasley, W.G., ed. (1977). Modern Japan: aspects of history, literature, and society. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 190–196. ISBN 0-520-03495-3.
- ^ Brannen, Noah (1968). Sōka Gakkai: Japan's militant Buddhists. John Knox Press. pp. 80, 101.
- ^ Hunt, Arnold D. (1975). Japan's militant Buddhism: a survey of the Soka Gakkai movement. Salisbury East, S. Aust.: Salisbury College of Advanced Education. pp. 1–13. ISBN 0909383065.
- ^ Kitagawa, Joseph M. (1990). Religion in Japanese history ([Reprint]. ed.). New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 329–330. ISBN 978-0231028387
- ^ Robert L. Ramseyer. "The Soka Gakkai". In Beardsley, Richard K., editor, Studies in Japanese culture I. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1965
- ^ Moos, Felix (March 1963). "Religion and Politics in Japan: The Case of the Soka Gakkai". Asian Survey. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ Doherty, Jr., Herbert J. (Winter 1963). "Soka Gakkai: Religions and Politics in Japan". The Massachusetts Review 4 (2). Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- ^ McFarland, H. Neill (1967). Rush Hour of the Gods. New York: Macmillan.
- ^ Murata, Kiyoaki (1969). Japan's new Buddhism: an objective account of Soka Gakkai ([1st ed.]. ed.). New York: Weatherhill. ISBN 978-0834800403.
- ^ Fujiwara, Hiroshi (1970). "I Denounce Soka Gakkai: What Should We Do About This, Japan?" Nisshin Hodo Co.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
mcfarland
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Epp, Robert (1981). "Some Aspects of Daisaku Ikeda's Thoughts." The Japan Christian Quarterly, Volumes 47-48.
- ^ Bethel, Dayle M. (1973). "Makiguchi, The Value Creator. Weatherhill
- ^ Bethel, Dayle M (1989). "Education for Creative Living," Iowa State University Press.
- ^ Bethel, Dayle M. (2002). "A Geography of Human Life." Caddo Gap Press.
- ^ Urbain, edited by Olivier (2013). Daisaku Ikeda and dialogue for peace. London: I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd. ISBN 978-1780765723.
{{cite book}}
:|first1=
has generic name (help) - ^ Urbain, Terrence Edward Paupp ; with a foreword by Olivier (2012). Beyond global crisis : remedies and road maps by Daisaku Ikeda and his contemporaries. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4128-4616-5.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Clark Chilson (2014), "Cultivating Charisma: Ikeda Daisaku's Self Presentations and Transformational Leadership." Journal of Global Buddhism Vol. 15 (2014): 65-78
- ^ Goulah, Jason (2013). "Daisaku Ikeda, Language and Education," Routledge
- ^ Goulah, Jason & Andrew Gebert (2013). "Makiguchi Tsunesaburo (1871-1944): Educational Philosophy in Context" (2013 Routledge).
- ^ Macioti, Maria Immacolata (2002). "The Buddha Within Ourselves: Blossoms of the Lotus Sutra." University Press of America.
- ^ Wilson, Bryan R. and Dobbelaere, Karel (1997). "A Time to Chant: Soka Gakkai Buddhists in Britain." Clarendon Press.
- ^ Chappell, David (2000). W. "Racial Diversity in the Soka Gakkai" in "Engaged Buddhism in the West," Christopher S. Queen (ed.), Wisdom Publications.
- ^ Hammond, Phillip and Machacek, David W. Machacek (1999). "Soka Gakkai in America: Accommodation and Conversion. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Metraux, Daniel (2000), "The Expansion of Soka Gakkai into Southeast Asia" in David Machacek and Bryan Wilson (eds.). Global Citizens: The Soka Gakkai Buddhist Movement in the World. Oxford University Press
- ^ Metraux, Daniel (1996). "The Lotus and the Maple Leaf: The Soka Gakkai Movement in Canada." University Press of America.
- ^ Metraux, Daniel (2004). "The Soka Gakkai in Australia" in Nova Religio."
- ^ Clarke, Peter (2000) "Buddhist Humanism and Catholic Culture in Brazil." in David Machacek and Bryan Wilson (eds.). Global Citizens: The Soka Gakkai Buddhist Movement in the World. Oxford University Press
- ^ Silva, Dilma de Melo (2000). "Makiguchi Project in Action – Enhancing Education for Peace". Journal of Oriental Studies, Vol. 10, Special Issue
- ^ Fowler, Jeanne and Fowler, Marv (2009). Chanting in the Hills, The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin in Wales and the Borders by Jeaneane and Merv Fowler. "Chanting in the Hillsides: The Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin in Wales and the Borders." Sussex Academic Press, ISBN 978-1-84519-258-7.
- ^ Tong, Chee Kiong (2007). "Rationalizing Religion: Religious Conversion, Revivalism and Competition in Singapore Society." Brill.
- ^ Mette Fisker-Nielsen, Anne (2012). "Religion and Politics in Contemporary Japan: Soka Gakkai Youth and Komeito," Routledge.
- ^ Ionescu, Sanda (2003). "Soka Gakkai in Germany: The Story of a Qualified Success," in in "Globalizing Japan: Ethnography of the Japanese Presence in Asia, Europe, and America," Harumi Befu, Sylvie Guichard-Anguis (eds.), Routledge.
- ^ Jayeel Serrano Cornelio (2013)"The nationalization of religion: Cultural performances and the youth of Soka Singapore." Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity, Göttingen, Germany
- ^ Cornejo, Monica (2013). Fedele, Anna; Knibbe, Kim (eds.). Individual Spirituality and Religious Membership among Soka Gakkai Buddhists in Spain. New York, NY [u.a.]: Routledge. pp. 62–77. ISBN 9780203074657.
- ^ Seager, Richard Hughes (2006). Encountering the Dharma: Daisaku Ikeda, Soka Gakkai, and the globalization of Buddhist humanism. Berkeley [u.a.]: Univ. of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24577-8
- ^ Clark Strand, Waking the Buddha, Middleway Press, 2014, pp. 125-130. Middleway Press is the publishing arm of the SGI-USA