Seen as the Virgin Mary by some and as the Buddhist bodhisattva Kannon by others, the seventeenth-century statue of Maria-Kannon is an ambiguous figure that raises questions about the relationship among religions amid evangelization: how can religions relate to one another, and can they coexist in the same space? In her talk, “’Mary + Kannon = Maria-Kannon’: The Problem of Interreligious Encounter in Early Modern Japan and Beyond,” Alaina Keller will explore such questions as she speaks on Catholic missions in early modern Japan as sites of encounter between Catholicism and Buddhism. This interreligious encounter, concretized in the Maria-Kannon statue, precipitated varying approaches to Buddhism among Catholic missionaries and converts, from exclusion to inclusion and even syncretism. While exploring this encounter will offer insights into the historical process of Japanese evangelization, the talk will also encourage discussion on our modern approach to interreligious encounter.
Alaina Keller is a PhD Candidate in Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. Her primary area of study is Christian-Buddhist comparative theology, with a particular focus on Mariology.
To RSVP for the September 25 session of Sun Rises, fill out the form below. Questions? Please email Mary Lee (mlee@collegiuminstitute.org).