Talk:Sōka Gakkai International

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[edit] SGI voting requests during election time

I know this isn't a source that I can reference properly, but maybe someone who is more familiar with related literature look into this more and find it in published source. My Japanese girlfriend, who is a member of SGI (though not practicing in any serious form) has told me that members of SGI have called her numerous times during Japanese elections, asking her to vote for the New Kemeito Party. They have also asked her to ask her friends, in a very polite way ("if you're not voting this year, could you vote for NKP?") to vote for NKP. I think it is worth mentioning this in the article that indeed SGI is still active in explicitly influencing members votes.

→Different user: I think these issues are touched upon in several sources, I think you could probably do an article check online and then read at the library. The activities you mentioned do happen, but they are limited to the Gakkai in Japan only. The SGI is prohibits the formation of political parties other than in Japan, so this discussion, while pertinent and interesting, is probably best addressed in the wikiarticle for the "Soka Gakkai" instead of here, the "Soka Gakkai International". Japanese social policy and politics are completely different than they are overseas. The parsing out of the different cultural nuances of the Japanese that make the New Komeito a completely valid organization (but only in Japan) is a daunting task. I think it should be done, but in the Japan specific article. The SGI will never have a political party in the West, because in general the West does well in protecting civil rights. In Japan, civil rights are not completely protected as they are here, in the U.S. for example. There's a lot of corruption in government spending that isn't for the welfare of the people, courts do not have strong laws against defamation, or at least, do not have strong penalties, etc. and the ethics of Japanese culture are different than here. In general, Japan doesn't not encourage the freedom of individual expression and often times the media will use bullying tactics to encourage conformity. Please ask your girlfriend about the concept of "the nail that stands out gets pounded down". Individual freedoms are often discouraged, even if it puts the individual in unhealthy circumstances. My mother and relatives are Japanese, I am also relaying their experiences.Tjnebraska 18:43, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Checking in

Hi I'm glad to read that other SGI members are writing in and also thoughtful non-SGI members. The last time I checked about a month ago, I saw that numerous people changed the wording of the main article in several places to support innuendos rather than proven facts. I was pretty disappointed that not many other people were changing things back to fact, at least for a few months. I appreciate seeing the interest in this article, and the desire for factual representation.

I think the Criticisms and the Praises of the SGI and Daisaku Ikeda both need to be reputably sourced. I think it is okay for any Wikiuser to make changes, as supported by the guidelines. I think it's perfectly reasonable to delete any unsourced criticism or praise. In my opinion, it would be great if someone tried out a more logical arrangement of the article.

I would have to recheck, but I'm pretty sure Wikipedia does not support the use of other websites as being a reputable source, which would mean that the "Rick Ross Institute" link under "Criticisms" should be deleted, but I figure I'd have to put up quite a fight if I decided to delete any criticism of the SGI.

Please make any logical or reliably sourced change to the article!

Just a note: In my Wiki-experience in this article, please sign your posts with your user ID. Some believe that not signing your posts is a basis for discounting a users contribution.

Thanks, Tjnebraska 18:43, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Careful with amount of members

Please do take care with the number of members. Its seems cummon practice in both, SGI and Nichiren Shohu, to take pride in the number of their members - hence how many joined officialy. No indication how ever is ever given to the number who still practice this form of buddhism, have left for other schools or indeed practice independently. (Unsigned comment added by User 62.214.250.81 at 04:35, 20 July 2007.)

[edit] Purpose of listing famous SGI members

What is the significance of listing SGI members? Is it to out them, or to imply that their membership is an endorsement and therefore substantiation of the validity of the organization or religion? The latter practice is used frequently by new religions in Japan, especially with regard to non-Japanese; but many non-members of these organizations see this practice as a form of outing and many of the persons named do not appreciate this aspect of their personal lives coming under scrutiny. In this context, listing people this way might also conflict with Wikipedia policy. Just some food for thought.... Jim_Lockhart 02:17, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

I think it is meant to be promotional, the way groups like Scientology use celebrities. Secretlondon 03:05, 19 October 2007 (UTC)
It also appears to me to be, at best, of little importance, probably irrelevant and not encyclopaedic in style and sounds like the sort of thing you´ll find in a promotional pamphlet, some kind of "celebrity endorsement". Not very rigorous. I support removing it. --Sandrog (talk) 13:22, 2 January 2008 (UTC)