Reconsidering the “Spirit of Foundation” at Momoyama Gakuin University Recurring the “Christian Ethos” and Future Challenges

In the world today, global competition between corporations and nations, conflicts between cultures and religions is intensifying. On the other hand, global cooperation on the environmental problems is expected. “Competition” and “cooperation”: Although they seemed to have the opposite characteristics, they are simultaneously directing the social movement of today. They probably are essential elements and it is considered that the balance between them figures out the society and its history. How you grasp or consider the balance is important. It is good to think about the two considerable patterns. The first pattern has “competition” as its axis, and “cooperation” that makes the contribution is required in the pattern. The second pattern has “cooperation” as its axis and “competition” that makes contribution is required in the pattern. It is not a mistake to say that the “competition” that was given meaning by “cooperation” in the latter pattern is the same as “individualization”. It may be better to express “competition within oneself” rather than that of “among others” (The author calls the latter “horizontal competition” and former “vertical competition”). It is presumed that effective as well as satisfying “cooperation” is done in the network that makes use of the difference (individualism) under “the mutual approval of difference”. The former pattern is not free due to the characteristic of “supremacy” and the latter has the characteristic of “idealism”. What pattern are we going to select or intend ? This world and social situation becomes the environment that surrounds universities, which is the higher education institution. Questions and answers may be the most important issue in the university. For education and research, they would rather select the second pattern making it the intention would have affinity. For mission schools, those are indispensable. The origin of Momoyama Gakuin University was Trinity Boy’s School founded in 1884 by Charles Frederick Warren (18411899), who was a missionary of Anglican Communion, which is a Christian sect that is in between Catholic and Protestant. And our educational philosophy is to nurture “citizens of world ” based on “the foundation of the school” which is “the spirit of freedom and love” as “the christian ethos”. Therefore, education and research presumed the future with progressive “exploration of ideal” and “path to the ideal”, so they cultivate the responsibility of the future, and conceptualize and practices it proactively. What may be necessary to respond to those challenges certainly is to share the understanding of “the spirit of foundation”, “educational philosophy” and to progress it. For this, progressive process formation with various discussions as medium is necessary. By starting this, it will be the organizational “wisdom”, education and research that is geared toward true “living” is expected to start. With this overview, we established cooperation research project with a few people. “Philosophical and Theological Reconsideration of ‘the Christian Ethos of Momoyama Gakuin’: relating to the meaning of ‘living’ and concept of ‘service’ (April 2011 to March 2013). This project has been continuing for the last 2 years in order to publish a book Spirit of Freedom and Love : Challenge of Momoyama Gakuin University which discusses the “spirit of freedom and love” freely from the standpoint of each participant. This thesis summarizes the background of the publishing based on the result of the research activities of this project so far.departmental bulletin pape