In the Soka Gakkai, the emphasis is on deference to authority rather than enlightenment.

“Correct” teaching，handed down from above in the traditional oriental manner 一 authoritative pronouncement and regimented obeisance — is the supporting pillar of the Society [Soka Gakkai].

Boy, do we ever know it! This was written in the 1960s by Noah S. Brannen, a Christian missionary who died just 2 years ago and who decided in 1948 that his vocation lay in Japan in the wake of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Therefore, he was completely embedded for the rise of the Soka Gakkai, and he investigated them and wrote several articles about them. His reaction to being "shakubukued" by them is fun - I'll post it later.

Even Christian missionaries sometimes have their uses :)

The emphasis is on deference to the teaching authority rather than on the enlightenment of the learner. The average follower is not expected to go too deeply into a study of doctrine.

"Doctrine"?? WHAT "doctrine"?? In the Soka Gakkai, Nam-myoho-renge-kyo IS the doctrine!

Remember, Nichiren's first position was as a Nembutsu priest. That's right - the sect he hated the most was the one he'd been a part of. Similar to how the Soka Gakkai reserves its most virulent hatred for the sect THEY were a part of, that had the temerity to excommunicate Ikeda, the modern-day Buddha! (ha ha ha)

In fact, Nichiren basically kept ALL the Nembutsu principles, focusing on the one that the scriptures are just too haad for regular people, so they should just mindlessly repeat a magic chant and that's just as good as reading the scriptures! Within Nembutsu, the magic chant is "Nam Amida Butsu"; in Nichiren's sect it's "Nam myoho renge kyo." Potato, potahto, in other words.

All Nichiren did was change the chant. He was so dimwitted that he thought that was all it took, and soon HE'd be even MOAR popular than the Nembutsu (which remains the most popular Buddhism in Japan to this day). Oh, too bad, Nicky boy!

It is doubtful, however, whether more than a handful of those who daily mumble so easily the “nyoze-so nyoze-sho nyoze-tai, nyoze-riki，nyoze-sa, nyoze-in, nyoze-en, nyoze-ka, nyoze-ho, nyoze-honmak-kukyo-to"，of Chapter 2 have the slightest inkling of the Buddhist concept of “ suchness ” which these words indicate.

He applies keen insight to the Gakkers O_O

The ordinary follower is quite content with selected Buddhist concepts as they are introduced in the Manual on Forced Conversion.

I'm trying to track THAT one down!!

Only a few eager students read the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren, with reading aids (furigana), and a commentary by Toda. - from The Teachings of Soka Gakkai by Noah S. Brannen

I think I have a copy of that Toda commentary somewhere - maybe when we move, it'll turn up! :D