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Kagawa
- GenresBiography
202 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1946
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 23, 2018
It doesn't take long for it to become readily apparent that this is a hagiography. I think it would've been more helpful to see his struggles; nevertheless, so much can be gleaned from the life of this amazing soul. Definitely a hero of mine.
"'Busy, busy!' says the woman as she shuts herself up in the rear of the house and sews away on finery she will wear, at the most, not more than three days during the year. Business men there are who repeat the refrain, 'Busy, busy,' as they rush to and fro between their offices and the establishments where their illicit lovers live.
"Military men take up the tune, 'Busy, busy,' as they care for their cannon and polish their guns. Students keep saying, 'Busy, busy,' as they sit up all night to prepare for examinations - and forget everything when the tests are over.
"The liquor dealer's bustle keeps the brothel-keeper busy. The brothel-keeper's busyness makes the physician busy. The physician's rushing keeps the chauffeur on the go. The chauffeur's activity in turn makes the liquor-dealer busy. Thus the ever-revolving circle turns round and round. Without any ideals, without any aspirations, this living corpse obtrudes itself around the earth.
"If this can be called a living social order, then the fire wheels of hell in perpetual motion are a symbol of a perfect society. No marvel that the desire to seek God dies in such a society. The window through which God would invade a life so superficial and so completely absorbed in the present has been closed.
"God would simply be a nuisance in a capitalistic society and in an age where materialism has become the accepted norm of life. Thus in this whirl-about life it is necessary to put Him out of the way. If God comes in, the motion of this whirligig world would come to a stop. Life with God means an end of this merry-go-round existence and to live instead for thing of the highest value." (p.180-1)
"'Busy, busy!' says the woman as she shuts herself up in the rear of the house and sews away on finery she will wear, at the most, not more than three days during the year. Business men there are who repeat the refrain, 'Busy, busy,' as they rush to and fro between their offices and the establishments where their illicit lovers live.
"Military men take up the tune, 'Busy, busy,' as they care for their cannon and polish their guns. Students keep saying, 'Busy, busy,' as they sit up all night to prepare for examinations - and forget everything when the tests are over.
"The liquor dealer's bustle keeps the brothel-keeper busy. The brothel-keeper's busyness makes the physician busy. The physician's rushing keeps the chauffeur on the go. The chauffeur's activity in turn makes the liquor-dealer busy. Thus the ever-revolving circle turns round and round. Without any ideals, without any aspirations, this living corpse obtrudes itself around the earth.
"If this can be called a living social order, then the fire wheels of hell in perpetual motion are a symbol of a perfect society. No marvel that the desire to seek God dies in such a society. The window through which God would invade a life so superficial and so completely absorbed in the present has been closed.
"God would simply be a nuisance in a capitalistic society and in an age where materialism has become the accepted norm of life. Thus in this whirl-about life it is necessary to put Him out of the way. If God comes in, the motion of this whirligig world would come to a stop. Life with God means an end of this merry-go-round existence and to live instead for thing of the highest value." (p.180-1)
December 27, 2023
Kagawa, at least according to Axling's representation, was a sort of Mother Teresa of the slums of Japan.
The author is clearly in awe of Kagawa, and at times his poetic waxing can be a bit much.
And it seems that both were taken Christian Socialism. Kagawa's conversion and gospel message is only ever presented as being about the moral example of Christ. The content of his preaching is only summarized as against the wicked behaviors in the slums: prostitution, gambling, thievery, and the abuse of the lower class by industrialists. The book provides some harrowing images of the underbelly of industrialization, the way a peasant class can be treated even worse than under feudalism. Kagawa's self-sacrifice for the good of others is remarkable. Sadly, the only problem this book presents Christ as able to deal with is capitalism. It says nothing about salvation from sin and judgment and death.
The author is clearly in awe of Kagawa, and at times his poetic waxing can be a bit much.
And it seems that both were taken Christian Socialism. Kagawa's conversion and gospel message is only ever presented as being about the moral example of Christ. The content of his preaching is only summarized as against the wicked behaviors in the slums: prostitution, gambling, thievery, and the abuse of the lower class by industrialists. The book provides some harrowing images of the underbelly of industrialization, the way a peasant class can be treated even worse than under feudalism. Kagawa's self-sacrifice for the good of others is remarkable. Sadly, the only problem this book presents Christ as able to deal with is capitalism. It says nothing about salvation from sin and judgment and death.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews