Filling the spiritual vacuum: Douglas MacArthur, American Christianity and the occupation of Japan

While many studies of the American Occupation of Japan after World War II exist, few have taken on the challenge of examining what role religion and specifically Christianity played in the formation of the objectives of the Occupation. This dissertation argues that Douglas MacArthur zealously pursued the Christianization of Japan as a prerequisite to the successful accomplishment of the objectives of demilitarizing and democratizing Japan. Using the broad authority given to him by the U.S. government, Douglas MacArthur pushed this agenda despite policy pledges by MacArthur and the Occupation authorities to remain neutral in religious matters. The actions of Douglas MacArthur often contradicted Occupation policy and favored Christianity over other Japanese religions like Shinto or Buddhism. As a result, subordinates in MacArthur's command interested in unbiased reform, were often forced to reconcile the unfavorable situations created by their leader with the need to preserve religious neutrality. This dissertation relies mostly on primary source data collected from American military and civilian records at the National Archives II in College Park, Maryland, the Douglas MacArthur Memorial Archives in Norfolk, Virginia, and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri. Along with supplementary secondary source data from various books and articles, this dissertation concludes that despite Douglas MacArthur's efforts for and favoritism toward Christianity, the Japanese did not convert to this religion in any significant numbers. Although much fanfare surrounded the notion, even on the part of some vocal Japanese, less than one percent of the Japanese population identified themselves as Christian by the end of the Occupation. While the exact explanation for this is not completely clear, it appeared as though many Japanese were merely curious about Christianity, but had no real desire to convert. For his part, Douglas MacArthur believed that the Japanese needed and wanted Christianity until he was dismissed from his command in 1951.