Part 2　Background of the Doshisha Spirit and Its Contemporary Significance

Introduction

Joseph Hardy Neesima communicated his concerns and ideas to many people through letters and lectures. Many of the letters addressed to each person contain intimate content that appeals to the heart, while at the same time sharply expressing the core of Neesima’s thought. From his speeches and other public addresses, we can see how Neesima viewed the dawn of modern Japan and what kind of individuals and society he hoped would emerge from that period. Many of the goals Neesima set out to achieve and the visions he expressed have been handed down to us as unfinished tasks that have yet to be realized.
　In this part, we will focus on important words of Neesima that provide clues to “knowing together” what the issues handed down to us are (the etymological meaning of conscience is “knowing together”; see “Conscience” below). Although Neesima left behind many impressive words, he did not systematically write down his ideas. It is our responsibility to weave coherent thoughts and ideas from his words and apply them to the present day.
　Based on Part 1, “The Life and Thought of Joseph Hardy Neesima,” this part will taste each of Neesima’s words, which are categorized into Christian Values, the Spirit of Freedom, the View of Humanity, the View of Education, and Foundations of a University. At the same time, by relating the words to each other, we can see the “Doshisha Spirit” as a whole. The historical background is important for a proper understanding of the Doshisha spirit, but in these chapters, we focus on drawing out the “contemporary significance” of each word. The part asks how we, the people of today, perceive the words of Neesima, and how we can apply them to the future of Doshisha and our society.