A Delusional Doctor's Desecration: Japan's Shrines and Temples Under Siege The trial of Masahide Kanayama, a 63 year old Japanese American doctor accused of damaging several shrines and temples in Japan through his misguided "anointings", has exposed the darker side of zealotry.
As the case unfolds, it raises questions about the psychology behind such actions and their implications for Japan's cultural heritage.
Kanayama's defense that he believed the commands to pour oil came from the Holy Spirit blurs the line between faith and delusion.