Foster Parenting and Social Contribution Activities of Religious Believers : Findings from a Survey for Tenrikyo Federation for Foster Parents

サトオヤ　ヨウイク　カツドウ　ト　シュウキョウシャ　ノ　シャカイ　コウケン　カツドウ　テンリキョウ　サトオヤ　レンメイ　ヘノ　チョウサ　ケッカ　カラ

アオキ, シゲル

Aoki, Shigeru

天理教

宗教

Foster parenting

Tenrikyo

Faith

This paper examines the increase in Tenrikyo’s foster parenting. The number of foster parents affiliated with the Tenrikyo Federation for Foster Parents increased to 2.7 times, and that of foster children 3.6 times over 15 years. In exploring the factors behind this, the study surveyed foster parents to investigate their motivations as well as the characteristics and challenges of the activity. The questionnaire finds foster parents are often Church Head Ministers (Kyokaicho), faith in Tenrikyo is their main motivation, and receiving families are large ones consisting of a minister, his/her spouse, biological children, grandparents, etc. In this way, foster parenting is usually practiced by a large group of families in a religious environment. Tenrikyo’s foster parents also receive children who have suffered abuse or with disabilities without hesitation. How to ensure a healthy relationship between parenting and religion and how to create a system where children can be heard and express their opinions freely have emerged as challenges.