Baptism for the dead and List of political parties in Japan: Difference between pages

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'''Baptism for the dead''' by [[Wiktionary:proxy|proxy]] (or "vicarious baptism") is an ordinance practiced by members of [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (and splinter churches), the [[Mandaeanism|Mandaeans]] of [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]], some of the Neo-Apostolic congregations of [[Europe]], and some [[Native American]] religions. Although all the mentioned religious groups practice baptism for the dead to some extent, the term "baptism for the dead" is used almost exclusively in reference to the ordinance practiced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

{{Politics of Japan}}

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a living person, acting as proxy, is baptized by immersion in typical Latter-day Saint fashion, except that the [[prayer]] accompanying the baptism states that the [[baptism]] is being performed for and in behalf of a deceased person whose name has been submitted for that ordinance. In addition to this, the baptism must be performed by an endowed [[Melchizedek Priesthood]] holder in one of the Latter-day Saints' Church's [[Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|temples]].

'''Political parties in Japan''' lists [[political party|political parties]] in [[politics of Japan|Japan]].

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==Overview==

==Major parties==

It is imperative that one understand the Latter-day Saint view of baptism before understanding the importance of the ordinance of baptism for the dead. John 3:5 states that man must be born of water and of the spirt to enter the kingdom of God. Mormons believe firmly that personal baptism is a required ordinance for those who desire to enter the kingdom of God. Baptism for the Dead allows this saving ordinance to be offered to all those who have previously passed on without hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Chirst. If baptism is a required ordinance as Mormons believe is evidenced by Jesus's own desire to receive it from John the Baptist, then this ordinance becomes a burden for all those who wish to spread the Gospel with all the inhabitants of the earth who have previously passed on to the afterlife.

*[[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) ''Jiyū Minshū-tō'', or ''Jimin-tō'' 自民党([[Conservatism|conservative]], 1955-)

**The LDP is Japan's largest political party and the senior partner in the current governing coalition. Prime Minister [[Shinzo Abe]] is a member of this political party. It is a [[Conservatism|conservative]] party of the [[right-wing]] and is made up of various conservative and reformist factions. The LDP has been in power almost continuously since [[1955]], when it was formed as a merger of early postwar Japan's two conservative parties, the [[Liberal Party of Japan, Occupation]], and the [[Democrat Party of Japan, Occupation]]. The party is characterized as being very conservative on social and foreign matters.

*[[Democratic Party of Japan]] (DPJ) ''Minshūtō'' ([[social liberalism|social liberal]] 1998-)民主党

**The DPJ is Japan's second largest party and leads the opposition. It is a [[social liberalism|social liberal]] party. It is the largest opposition party, and was formed in the late 1990s as a result of the merger of several anti-LDP parties. Quite [[Liberalism|liberal]] and oppositional on key issues, as well as moderately [[social-democratic]]. It is against the Iraq war, and was led by Seiji Maehara until the end of March 2006, when he resigned due to a crisis involving a DPJ member (Hisayasu Nagata) making false allegations that the son of LDP Secretary-General ([[Tsutomu Takebe]]) illicitly received money from former [[Livedoor]] president [[Takafumi Horie]]. As of [[April 5]][[2006]], [[Naoto Kan]] and [[Ichiro Ozawa]] are running for DPJ party president.

*[[New Komeito]]* ''Komeitō'' ([[Conservatism|conservative]], [[theocratic]] [[Buddhist]], 1998-)公明党

**formerly [[Komeito (Former)]] ([[centrist]], [[theocratic]] [[Buddhist]], 1964-1998)

**formerly [[Komei Political Assembly]] ([[centrist]], [[theocratic]] [[Buddhist]], 1961-1964)

**The Shin Komeito Party (Japanese name for the New Komeito) is Japan's third largest party and the governing party's junior partner. It was formerly known as the [[Clean Government Political Assembly]] and the [[Komeito (Former)|Komeito]]. The party is a [[Conservatism|conservative]] party of the [[right-wing]], but it is also well supported by organizations like the [[Soka Gakkai]], a sect of [[Nichiren Buddhism]]. Therefore, it is also considered a [[theocratic]] Buddhist party. It has moderated its stance however. Because it is partners with the LDP, it is unopposed to the war in Iraq. It is now led by [[Takenori Kanzaki]].

*[[Japanese Communist Party]] (JCP) ''Nihon Kyōsan-tō'' (communist, 1922-)日本共産党

**The Japanese Communist Party is Japan's fourth largest party and the middle partner of the opposition coalition. It is a [[moderate]] [[communist]] party of the [[left-wing]]. Though it is communist, it is not against religion and does not want the [[emperor]] to step down. It supports multi-party democracy and does not advocate the imposition of radical change on Japanese society. It is considered pacifist and skeptical of the [[United States]].

*[[Social Democratic Party (Japan)]] (SDP) ''Shakai Minshūtō'', or ''Shamin-tō'' (socialist, 1996-)　社民党

** formerly [[Japan Socialist Party]] (JSP) ''Nihon Shakai-tō'' (socialist, 1945-1996)日本社会党

***a breakaway group formerly known as the [[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]], now defunct, (social-democratic, 1960-1996)

****in 1948 split up into the [[Rightist Socialist Party of Japan]], (moderate social-democratic, 1948-1955), and [[Leftist Socialist Party of Japan]], (extreme socialist, 1948-1955), in 1955, reunified into JSP.

**The Social Democrat Party of Japan is Japan's fifth largest party and the junior partner in the opposition coalition. It is a [[moderate]] [[social-democratic]] party of the [[left-wing]]. It is seen more as a [[moderate]] social-democratic, and [[populist]] party rather than a [[revolutionary]] [[socialist]] party. It grew out of the [[Japan Socialist Party]] and the [[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]] It is opposed to the war in Iraq.

== Minor parties==

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their practice of baptism for the dead is based on a revelation [[Joseph Smith]] received. Smith first taught the doctrine at the [[funeral]] sermon of a deceased member of the Church, Seymour Brunson. In a letter written on [[October 19]], [[1840]], to the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] of the Church (who were on a mission in the United Kingdom at the time), Smith refers to the passage in [http://scriptures.lds.org/1_cor/15 1 Corinthians 15:29] (KJV):

*[[Liberal League]] ''Jiyu Rengo'' (liberal, 1994-)

:I presume the doctrine of "baptism for the dead" has ere this reached your ears, and may have raised some inquiries in your minds respecting the same. I cannot in this letter give you all the information you may desire on the subject; but aside from knowledge independent of the Bible, I would say that it was certainly practiced by the ancient churches; and St. Paul endeavors to prove the doctrine of the resurrection from the same, and says, "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?" (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4:231)

**The Liberal League is a [[right-wing]] party in Japan, which, despite its name, is actually [[Conservatism|conservative]]. The Liberal League has 1 seat in the Diet.

*Other minor parties

**Japan has other minor parties with national support, mostly with [[communist]] and [[socialist]] ideologies, as well as a few [[nationalist]], [[reformist]], and far [[right-wing]] parties.

*Dissidents from the LDP formed the following parties in 2005 :

***[[People's New Party]] (PNP) ''Kokumin Shintō'' ([[Conservatism|conservative]], 2005-)

***[[New Party Nippon]] (NPN) ''Shintō Nippon'' (2005-)

***[[New Party Daichi]] (NPD) ''Shintō Daichi'' (2005-)

===Existing national parties represented in the Diet in the past===

Other scriptures of the Latter Day's Saints' Church ([[Doctrine and Covenants]] [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/124 124:29], [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/127 127:5-10] and [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/128 128]) expand upon this doctrine and command that such baptisms are to be performed in [[Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Temples]], of which there are more than 110 worldwide and many more under construction as of [[2003]]. Vicarious baptism is performed in connection with other vicarious ordinances in Latter-day Saint temples. The Church holds that deceased persons who have not accepted or had the opportunity to accept the faith in this life will have the opportunity to accept the faith in the afterlife, but in order to do so they must receive all the ordinances that a living person is expected to receive, including baptism. For this reason, [[genealogy]] forms an important basis of research in the Church's efforts to perform temple ordinances for as many deceased persons as possible . As a part of these efforts, a number of high profile people who have had temple ordinances performed on their behalf. Of particular interest are: the Founding Fathers of the U.S., Presidents of the U.S., John Wesley, Christopher Columbus, Jewish Holocaust victims, Ghengis Khan, Joan of Arc, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, and Buddha. Vicarious baptism does not mean that the decedent actually accepts the ordinance performed for him or her; it merely means that the decedent ''may'' accept the ordinance and the benefits which the Latter-day Saints claim it provides. However, Church leaders have stated that the people in the afterlife for whom these ordinances have been performed will rarely reject it.

Current political parties that used to be in the Diet but aren't currently represented:

While members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consider it a great service to perform vicarious ordinances for the deceased, some non-members have taken offense to what they see as an arrogant practice. To be sensitive to the issue of vicariously baptizing non-Mormons that are not related to Church members, the Church in recent years has publicized a policy of generally only performing temple ordinances for direct ancestors of Church members. For example, the Church is in the process of removing sensitive names (such as Jewish Holocaust victims) from its [[International Genealogical Index]]. [[D. Todd Christofferson]] of the Church's Presidency of the Seventy stated that removing the names is an "ongoing, labor intensive process requiring name-by-name research...When the Church is made aware of documented concerns, action is taken...Plans are underway to refine this process." Despite such "plans", some Mormons in Russia have allegedly attempted to purchase genealogical records with the intent of posthumously baptizing the people whose names are recorded in the cash-strapped archives, over the vocal objections of the local Russian Orthodox Christians.

* [[Dainiin Club]] ''Dainiin Kurabu'' ([[centrist]], 1983-)

== History ==

* [[New Socialist Party (Japan)|New Socialist Party]] ''Shin Shakai To'' (socialist, 1996-)

Baptism for the dead was practiced by some Christian groups in the late fourth century and possibly earlier. John A. Tvedtness, a Hebrew and early Christian scholar at Brigham Young University, Utah writes:

* [[Sports and Peace Party]] ''Supotsu Heiwa To'' (centrist, 1989-)

* ''[[Takeru]]'' (centrist, 2001-)

===Other parties===

:That baptism for the dead was indeed practiced in some orthodox Christian circles is indicated by the decisions of two late fourth century councils. The fourth canon of the Synod of Hippo, held in 393, declares, "The Eucharist shall not be given to dead bodies, nor baptism conferred upon them." The ruling was confirmed four years later in the sixth canon of the Third Council of Carthage.

* [[Rainbow and Greens]] ''Niji to Midori'' (green)

* ''[[Ishin Seito Shimpu]]'' (far-right, 1995-)

* [[Women's Party]] ''Josei To'' (Feminist, 1993-)

* [[Internet Breakthrough Party of Japan]] (Led by Iron Chef Comentator and Judge and former LDP member Shinichiro Kurimoto)

===Regional parties===

Some argue that the fact that these two councils felt it necessary to explicity forbid baptism for the dead shows that there must have been a significant group of people practicing it, accompanied by opposition to it by the church's leadership. Others disagree with the classification of such groups as "orthodox", since the councils concluded that they were in fact unorthodox, at least with respect to that practice.

Some of the main regional parties represented in regional assemblies:

* [[Kanagawa Network Movement]] ''Kanagawa Nettowaku Undo'' (Yokohama, socialist)

Some members of the LDS church see significant parallels between the Baptism for the dead and the [[prayer|prayers]] and [[requiem|requiem masses]] read for the dead in some churches( e.g. [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]), both historical and modern. Others see similarities to other doctrines associated with [[Purgatory]]. These parallels are disputed by many non-Mormons and Mormons.

* [[Seikatsusha Network]] ''Seikatsusha Nettowaku'' (Tokyo, socialist)

* [[Okinawa Social Mass Party]] ''Okinawa Shakai Taishu To'' (Okinawa, socialist)

*[[Green Niigata]], ''Midori Niigata'' (Niigata, communist)

**formerly [[Niigata New Party for People]], ''Shimin Shin-to Niigata'' (Niigata, communist)

==Defunct parties==

According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "Tertullian believed that Paul referred to a custom of vicarious baptism (Res., 48c; Adv. Marc., 5.10). There is evidence that the early church knew such a practice. Epiphanius mentions a tradition that the custom obtained among the Cerinthians (Haer., 28 6). And Chrysostom states that it prevailed among the Marcionites." All of these supporters were considered heretics by the early Church: Tertullian died outside the church as a [[montanism|Montanist]]; the Cerinthians were a Gnostic group that also denied that Jesus Christ was crucified; and the Marcionites were yet another Gnostic group who followed [[Marcion]], who was also excommunicated from the Church before forming his own sect.

* [[Association of Independents]] ''Mushozoku no Kai'' (centrist, 1999-2004)

== Christian opposition ==

** formerly [[House of Representatives Club]] ''Sangiin Kurabu'' (centrist, 1998-1999)

*[[New Conservative Party]], (conservative, 2002-2003)

**formerly [[Conservative Party of Japan (2000)]], (conservative, 2000-2002)

*[[Liberal Party (1998)]], (liberal, 1998-2003)

*[[Democratic Party of Japan (1996)]], (liberal, 1996-1998)

*[[Good Governance Party]], (liberal, 1998)

*[[New Fraternity Party]], (liberal reformist, 1998)

*[[Sun Party]], (liberal reformist, 1996-1998)

*[[Democratic Reform Party]] (liberal reformist, 1993-1998)

* [[Midori no Kaigi]] ''Environmental Green Political Assembly'' ([[ecologist]] [[Conservatism|conservative]] [[reformist]], 2002-2004)

**formerly[[The Sakigake Party]], (conservative reformist-ecologist, 1998-2002)

**formerly [[New Party Sakigake]], (conservative reformist-ecologist, 1993-1998)

*[[New Peace Party]], (conservative, 1997-1998)

*[[Japan New Party]], (liberal, 1993-1996)

*[[Japan Renewal Party]], (liberal, 1993-1994)

*[[New Frontier Party]], (socialist/liberal, 1994-1997)

*[[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]], (social-democratic, 1960-1994 - broke off from JSP)

*[[Democratic Party of Japan, Occupation]], (agrarian conservative, 1945-1955)

*[[Liberal Party of Japan, Occupation]], (conservative, 1945-1955)

*[[Great Achievement Association]], (conservative nationalist, 1889-1909)

**formerly [[Conservative Party of Japan (1880)]]

*[[Constitutional Liberal Party (Japan)]], (liberal, 1882-1931)

*[[Constitutional Progressive Party]], (moderate liberal, 1882-1934)

*[[Liberal Party of Japan (1881)]], (liberal, 1881)

**formerly [[Aikoku Koto|Aikokusha]], (liberal, 1872-1881)

*[[Liberalism in Japan]]

Other Christian denominations do not generally accept the Latter-day Saint interpretation of the aside to the issue of bodily [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ|resurrection]] contemplated in 1 Corinithians 15:29 [http://scriptures.lds.org/1_cor/15], and no contemporary Christian church practices a similar ordinance. In this chapter Paul is arguing to Christians in Corinth against those who do not believe in the bodily resurrection of both Jesus and His followers. While there are different approaches to the meaning of this aside, some Christians believe that Paul was merely showing the logical contradiction between the practices of these local Christians and their lack of belief in the resurrection. Others believe that Paul was referring to "The Dead" as Christ (Why are you then baptized in to Christ, if he rise not at all), or that Paul is referring to the symbol of Baptism - the death, burial and resurrection of the individual as they begin their new life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Other scholars are not sure exactly what Paul meant by the comments (see links below).

Japan has other minor parties not represented in Parliament (which have never been represented before), mostly [[reformist]], [[liberal]], [[nationalist]], [[socialist]], and [[communist]] parties.

Another counter-argument to baptism for the dead is there is little or no record (or incomplete, or disputed) of any mainstream [[Christian]] denomination historically practicing it, and therefore it fails the test set forth by Saint [[Vincent of Lerins]], that Christians should believe that which "has been believed by all Christians in all places at all times."

:''Ways to browse Wikipedia for political parties are by [[Index of political parties|name of the party]], [[List of political parties|country]], [[List of political parties by ideology|ideology]] or by [[List of political parties by ideology#Trans-national world groupings and parties|membership of internationals]] and through the category system: especially by [[:Category:Political parties by country|country]] and [[:category:political parties by ideology|ideology]].''

Among the major reasons that many Christians dismiss this practice is that it appears to make [[salvation]] dependent on the religious works of others. It is a central Christian belief, also reflected in the Jewish views described below, that every person is personally responsible in the face of [[God]]. The practice of Baptism for the Dead appears to some Christians to abrogate this personal responsibility, by allowing others to change the standing of the dead in [[God]]'s eyes.

[[Category:Japan-related lists|Political parties]]

== Holocaust Victim Controversy==

[[Category:Lists of political parties|Japan]]

[[Category:Political parties in Japan| ]]

[[es:Partidos políticos de Japón]]

Believed to be a long time practice of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been to vicariously baptize the [[Holocaust]]'s [[Jew]]ish victims and other prominent individuals. However, Church policy states that Church members submit their own names for these type of ordinances, and require that a surviving family member's permission be obtained for ''any'' Baptism that is to be performed of deceased individuals that have died within a certain time period (usually 50-75 years).

[[ja:日本の政党一覧]]

[[vi:Đảng phái Nhật Bản]]

However, some Baptisms were done for Holocaust Victims, without proper approval or permission. When this information became public, it generated vocal criticism of the LDS Church (though not rising to the level of [[anti-Mormonism]]) from Jewish groups, who found this ritual to be insulting and insensitive (though not rising to the level of [[anti-Semitism]]). Partly as a result of public pressure, Church leaders in [[1995]] promised to put into place new policies that would help stop the practice, unless specifically requested or approved by relatives of the victims.

In late [[2002]], information surfaced that members of the Church had not stopped this practice despite directives from the Church leadership to its members, and criticism from Jewish groups began again. [[Simon Wiesenthal|The Simon Wiesenthal Center]], [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], is on record as opposing the vicarious baptism of Holocaust victims. Rabbi [[Marvin Hier]] of the Center holds: "If these people did not contact the Mormons themselves, the adage should be: Don't call me, I'll call you. With the greatest of respect to them, we do not think they are the exclusive arbitrators of who is saved." Recently Church leaders have agreed to meet with leaders of the [[World Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors]].

In December 2002, independent researcher [[Helen Radkey]] published a report showing that the Church's 1995 promise to remove Jewish Nazi victims from its International Genealogical Index was not sufficient; her research of the Church's database uncovered the names of about 19,000 who had a 40 to 50 percent chance of having "the potential to be Holocaust victims...in Russia, Poland, France, and Austria."

Genealogist [[Bernard Kouchel]] conducted a search of the International Genealogical Index, and discovered that many well known Jews have been vicariously baptized, including [[Rashi]], [[Maimonides]], [[Albert Einstein]], [[Menachem Begin]], [[Irving Berlin]], [[Marc Chagall]], and [[Gilda Radner]]. Some permissions may have been obtained, but there is not currently not a system in play to ensure that these permissions have been obtained, which has angered many in various religious and cultural communities.

In 2004, Schelly Talalay Dardashti, Jewish genealogy columnist for ''The Jerusalem Post'' noted that Jews, even those with no Mormon descendants, are being rebaptised after being removed from the rolls. In an interview, D. Todd Christofferson, a church official, told ''The New York Times'' that it was not feasible for church to continuously monitor the archives to ensure that no new Jewish names appear. The agreement referred to above did not place this type of responsibility on the centralized Church leadership.

''See also:'' [[ancestor liberation]]

==References==

*Roberts, B.H. (editor); ''History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''; The Deseret Book Company; ISBN 0-87579-490-4 (revised 2nd edition, softcover, 1975)

*Tvedtnes, John A.; ''Baptism for the Dead: The Coptic Rationale''; Retrieved Aug 19, 2003, from http://www.fairlds.org/apol/misc/misc23.html

==External links==

Additional links about Baptism for the Dead

* http://www.searchgodsword.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T1150,

* http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc01/htm/iii.ix.xiii.htm,

* http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-r001.html,

* http://www.cornerstonechurchonline.com/biblestudies/baptism4thedead.htm,

* http://www.nccg.org/FAQ116-BapDead.html,

* http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/temples/Baptism_Ancient_EOM.htm

* http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_BaptDead.shtml,

* http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/ldsagree.html

Links about unauthorized proxy baptisms

* [http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/West/12/10/baptizing.the.dead.ap/ ''Mormons meet with Jews over baptizing Holocaust victims'' from CNN.com]

* [http://www.sltrib.com/2002/Dec/12122002/utah/10420.asp ''LDS Church Reaffirms No Proxy Baptisms of Jews'' from The Salt Lake Tribune]

* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1088650997941&apage=1 Vicarious baptism of Jews continues in 2004]

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[[Category:Latter Day Saint doctrines, beliefs, and practices]]

[[Category:Latter Day Saint ordinances, rituals, and symbolism]]