Conscience and Culture

Western Christianity is doctrinally and philosophically very different from traditional Japanese thinking, but in the domain of moral thought there are broad areas of fruitful dialogue, as Osamu Takeuchi''s study demonstrates. Takeuchi puts the Japanese concepts of ryôshin (originally good heart/mind, or conscience) and makoto (sincerity, reality, integrity) into dialogue with historical and contemporary Catholic moral theology. Takeuchi demonstrates that traditional Japanese moral thought has much to contribute to Catholic theology, not only for Japanese Christians, but for the global church. It also demonstrates the ways in which the Confucian heritage of Japan continues to be a rich resource for the contemporary world.—Judith A. Berling, Graduate Theological Union