그들에게 이단의 족쇄를 채운 것은 ‘종교’인가, ‘사회의 시선’인가 ― 무라카미 하루키(村上春樹)의 논픽션『약속된 장소에서(約束された場所で)』를 중심으로 ―

Abstract

This study analyzes the message conveyed by author, Haruki Murakami in his non-fiction work, Underground2, focusing on the confused and distrustful Japanese society after the Aum Shinrikyo incident that occurred in March 1995. Murakami challenges the fixed ideas and prejudices constructed by the media and society, aiming to transform the prevailing narrow-minded perspective, or “heretical frame.” Through his non-fiction book, he seeks to clarify that the restriction and exclusion of people who had left closed religions and returned to the real world is no longer a religious issue but rather a matter of “social perspective.” Murakami focuses on the discrimination that the followers faced after the incident and their continued existence in hiding. Furthermore, Murakami paid attention not only to punishing the leaders of the incident but also to the children who were born and raised within the group and faced discrimination. In other words, he also provided a warning message that there is a need to address the social problems that arose after the incident from a long-term perspective. Even now, the harmful effects of new religions are constantly emerging, and their influence is still expanding, targeting people's sense of emptiness. The author's message that followers of new religions are not a different and strange existence but ordinary people like us, and the need to break away from the "heretical frame" of hating and excluding them is a message that we should take seriously in our current society, not just in Japan.