A Word of Caution

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My Concerns

I hope that you understand that I bear no ill will towards the Sukyo Mahikari organisation or its members. Although you may find the information presented here provocative and challenging, it is not my intention to antagonise anybody. I avoided making personal attacks on Mahikari leaders. My only concern is with the teachings of the Mahikari movement, which I cannot accept. Most of us have the freedom to express our spirituality however we choose. However, this freedom also comes with tremendous responsibility. Some aspects of Mahikari are commendable. It recognises the need for humanity to be reconciled with God. The world is in a sorry state, and Mahikari members want to change this situation. Those whom I have met come across as sincere, well-meaning people who have a strong desire to do something to alleviate the terrible suffering many people experience today. There is also a strong sense of community in Mahikari, which is increasingly hard to find in our competitive, individualistic world, even in many Christian churches, at least in the Western world.

Even so, many former members of Sukyo Mahikari have expressed serious concerns about the movement. Perhaps it is not my place to do this, but I would strongly caution any Sukyo Mahikari member to think carefully about what they are involved in, and where it might ultimately lead them. As many people in ancient times discovered, there are very serious consequences for anyone who makes the wrong decision in relation to spiritual matters. I have read many stories about peoples' experiences in using the mysterious supernatural power of "True Light." As many former Sukyo Mahikari members have discovered, dabbling in these supernatural, occultic powers is very dangerous and harmful. Life presents us with many choices, and we need to be careful how we make them. In one of his most famous sermons, Jesus warned:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

These words are just as relevant and powerful today as they were when Jesus first spoke them some 2000 years ago. In exploring the question of spirituality, we would do well not to disregard them. It is vital for you to think independently about spiritual things, even if the leaders of your movement attempt to discourage you from doing this. We all need to make informed choices about how we express our spirituality. How you choose to respond to the information presented here is up to you. If you are currently involved in Sukyo Mahikari, or any other Mahikari faction, I would encourage you to to examine the claims of Jesus for yourself by reading the Bible, and see for yourself if he truly was who he claimed to be. Mahikari founder Yoshikazu Okada claimed that he was divine, but in reality was merely an ordinary man, unable to provide humanity with forgiveness of sins and peace with God. He was clearly wrong to claim that he, and not Jesus, was the Messiah. As we have seen, Jesus Christ legitimately and credibly claimed to be far more than an ordinary man, He was the Messiah, and the one and only Saviour of humanity. In the end, you are faced with a choice between Jesus Christ and Sukyo Mahikari. Jesus loved all people, but he loved them enough to also warn them of the eternal consequences of rejecting his teachings. Your eternal destiny depends on how you respond to him. What will your answer be? Who do you say Jesus is? I hope that in time you will consider this question. You cannot afford to disregard it.

Further Reading

The following is a list of further materials that you may find helpful if you feel compelled to explore Mahikari, Christianity, Jesus Christ and related issues in greater detail, at least at an introductory level.

Davis, Winston. Dojo: Exorcism and Magic in Modern Japan. Stanford, California. Stanford University Press, 1980.

Greenwood, Garry. All the Emperor's Men: An Inside View of the Imperial Cult. Self-published, Sydney, Australia, 1998.

Gumbel, Nicky. Why Jesus? East Sussex. England. Kingsway Publications, 1992.

Gumbel, Nicky. What About Other Religions? Eastbourne, England. Kingsway Publications, 1994.

Manning, Brennan. The Ragamuffin Gospel: Embracing the Unconditional Love of God. Aylesbury, England, Alpha Publishers, 1990.

Ro, Bong Rin (Ed). Christian Alternatives to Ancestor Practices. Taiwan, Asia Theological Association, 1985.   

Tebecis, Andris. Mahikari: Thank God for the Answers at Last. Tokyo, Yoko Shuppan (Publishing) Co Ltd, 1992.