[maraboutslim]

that would be tragic.

all japan needs is for the older generations to pay attention to the younger ones and pass on the already strong "spiritual" traditions the culture is based on.

[American Oyaji]

Japan needs Jesus.

[Big Booger]

If Japanese adhered to the teachings of Buddha all would be well even the ailing economy.


I think it interesting if they teach religion as a course in the process of education. Not if they stick with one religion and push it down the throats of all. A comparative religion course would actually enlighten many Japanese who are quite ignorant when it comes to worldly religions.

I think it silly that even in the US we shy away from teaching classes like this.. a shame really because kids grow up mostly thinking that the religion their parents teach them is the one "true" religion, instead of giving them a choice they are force-fed whatever their pappy and mammy think is appropriate.

[devicenull]

japan needs another purging of the christians :P

[Caustic Saint]

japan needs another purging of the christians :P

On the contrary, what Japan really needs...

Either/or, just so long as something's done to get Western religions out of Eastern cultures.

I loathe the "christian" mentality in Korea. 50% of the population claims to be christian, yet the ones who claim to be the most faithful are the liars and schemers. (Count many hagwon/elkaiwa owners in that group.) As though claiming a faith is a cure/justification for your misdeeds.

The landscape of any reasonable-sized are is dotted with small churches, each adorned with a red neon cross. At night it looks like bad concept art for a Castlevania game.

What irks me most about christianity here is that Korea claims 5,000 years of history - and their own Confucian system of faith/philosophy. Then, sometime recently in their history, white people show up and say, "hey, you're doing it all wrong. If you don't change you'll go to this bad place you've never heard of and live in fire for eternity." half the people buy into it - to an extent. And they wonder why Korea's claim to fame is being Asia's (more specifically, Japan's) bitch.

[kamome]

japan needs another purging of the christians :P

Either/or, just so long as something's done to get Western religions out of Eastern cultures.

What irks me most about christianity here is that Korea claims 5,000 years of history - and their own Confucian system of faith/philosophy. Then, sometime recently in their history, white people show up and say, "hey, you're doing it all wrong. If you don't change you'll go to this bad place you've never heard of and live in fire for eternity." half the people buy into it - to an extent. And they wonder why Korea's claim to fame is being Asia's (more specifically, Japan's) bitch.

Amen to that! (no pun intended :P )

I seriously disagree with American Oyaji. Japan doesn't need Jesus, and Asian (and all non-Western) cultures should be left alone when it comes to religion. I have always privately detested missionaries who go to other countries and subvert the native culture. Japan was right to sequester the Jesuits in Nagasaki centuries ago - it enabled Japanese culture was able to persist in its original form.

[Big Booger]

That was enlightening about Korea being a second haven to the Christian movement.. never knew it.. cause I've never been to Korea yet even though I love Kimchee and Samsung products quite a bit.

You know something really intriguing is the mormon influence in Japan. I would've never guessed that it would have been so predominant here.. until I came and have seen these boys and girls, white as ivory riding around in ties on bicycles preaching and ministering as best they can in the land of concrete.

[Taro Toporific]

all japan needs is for the older generations to pay attention to the younger ones and pass on the already strong "spiritual" traditions the culture is based on.

What strong "spiritual" traditions? State Shito? Nobody ever believed that.
Old or young, the average Japanese person has ZERO interest the "spiritual" except ghost stories on TV.

The only religion in Japan is being Japanese.






--------------------------------

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html
Estimates of the percentage of Japanese who are Buddhist vary widely. Perhaps 85% of the population will cite Buddhism is asked what their preferred religion is, but 75% of the population claim to be nonreligious -- to practice and believe in no religion.... Certainly there are high numbers of nominal Buddhism and secularism in other countries on this list, but not as pervasively as in Japan.

[Caustic Saint]

The only religion in Japan is being Japanese.

Which makes them the only religion not looking for converts.

[kamome]

The only religion in Japan is being Japanese.

Yep. Must be frustrating for those Mormons.

[AssKissinger]

I loathe the "christian" mentality in Korea. 50% of the population claims to be christian, yet the ones who claim to be the most faithful are the liars and schemers. (Count many hagwon/elkaiwa owners in that group.) As though claiming a faith is a cure/justification for your misdeeds.

That's exactly what I was thinking. It's a relief to come to Japan from Korea just to get away from those creepy Korean Christians. Jesus is the last thing Japan needs.

What irks me most about christianity here is that Korea claims 5,000 years of history - and their own Confucian system of faith/philosophy. Then, sometime recently in their history, white people show up and say, "hey, you're doing it all wrong. If you don't change you'll go to this bad place you've never heard of and live in fire for eternity." half the people buy into it - to an extent. And they wonder why Korea's claim to fame is being Asia's (more specifically, Japan's) bitch.

I think that the Christianization of Korea is a by product of their distaste for all things JPN. During the colonization the JPN deeply humilated the Korean monks, forcing them to adopt Japanese ways and to give up their traditions. Those that stood up to the JPN were summarily murdered. Therefore the monks with the greatest conviction were the first to die. By the end of the colonization only monks who would be perceived as cowardly assimilators remained. Image down for Korean Buddhism. The 'white Christians' on the other hand came from a culture that kicked Japan's ass and liberated Korea. Image up.

[devicenull]

japan needs another purging of the christians :P

On the contrary, what Japan really needs...

i didnt expect some sort of spanish inquisition

[Taro Toporific]

The only religion in Japan is being Japanese.

Yep. Must be frustrating for those Mormons.

As I've said before: Every year, LDS "loses" more its missionaries to Japan, than it gains in J-converts.

Even under the watchful eyes and spies of the Elders, more than 30% of the sweet missionary boys become lechers and drunks in Japan and fail to return to Fold. On the other hand, LDS garners fewer than 200 converts a year. I loooove to remind them of that.

LDS aka Church of the LaterDay Saints aka Mormons

[devicenull]

Amen to that! (no pun intended :P )

I seriously disagree with American Oyaji. Japan doesn't need Jesus, and Asian (and all non-Western) cultures should be left alone when it comes to religion. I have always privately detested missionaries who go to other countries and subvert the native culture. Japan was right to sequester the Jesuits in Nagasaki centuries ago - it enabled Japanese culture was able to persist in its original form.

i personally like the timeline i saw on a pity-fuck party site for christianity in japan. there was a good time when every 50 years or so, they would just slaughter the christians. a few times crucifying them (o teh irony). they rightfully saw them as a first wave of colonization and didnt want anything to do with it.. i have a japanese friend who mentioned she was going to a church once.. then she added that she only goes for the singing :P.. i pushed the issue and apparently half of the "church" goes for the same reason.. has nothing to do with religion, and most of them leave after the singing.

[devicenull]

The only religion in Japan is being Japanese.

Yep. Must be frustrating for those Mormons.

As I've said before: Every year, LDS "loses" more its missionaries to Japan, than it gains in J-converts.

Even under the watchful eyes and spies of the Elders, more than 30% of the sweet missionary boys become lechers and drunks in Japan and fail to return to Fold. On the other hand, LDS garners fewer than 200 converts a year. I loooove to remind them of that.

LDS aka Church of the LaterDay Saints aka Mormons

lol, that's rich.. i have a mormon friend who went to west virgina and now is completely brainwashed... maybe he needs a change of venue :P

[maraboutslim]

all japan needs is for the older generations to pay attention to the younger ones and pass on the already strong "spiritual" traditions the culture is based on.

What strong "spiritual" traditions? State Shito? Nobody ever believed that.
Old or young, the average Japanese person has ZERO interest the "spiritual" except ghost stories on TV.

The only religion in Japan is being Japanese.
--------------------------------

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_buddhist.html
Estimates of the percentage of Japanese who are Buddhist vary widely. Perhaps 85% of the population will cite Buddhism is asked what their preferred religion is, but 75% of the population claim to be nonreligious -- to practice and believe in no religion.... Certainly there are high numbers of nominal Buddhism and secularism in other countries on this list, but not as pervasively as in Japan.

They can claim to practice no religion. And that's my point. Shinto, and Buddhism, are not "religions". They do not have Dogma (only dharma). Japanese culture and the daily habits of the Japanese people are greatly shaped by these belief systems though. In a good way. Not in a fake, "I believe X" way, but in a totally integrated system for dealing with the natural world and other people and the challenges of life. The fact that they do not recognize these beliefs and practices as being "buddhist" or "shintoist" is great.

-Slim

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

[cstaylor]

There are plenty of religious fanatics in Japan, but fortunately (except for the right-wing zealots) they are fringe groups. The right-wing is a religion onto its own.

[Alcazar]

No killing innocent Moslems.

[American Oyaji]

There is nothing wrong with Christianity,

except that people think its a religion. It isn't. It's a way of life. Even some supposed "Christians" think this way as well.

[Alcazar]

There is nothing wrong with Christianity, except that people think its a religion. It isn't. It's a way of life. Even some supposed "Christians" think this way as well.

I agree with American Oyaji (I don't have a religion myself). I used to be more biased against Christians until I was exposed to Christianity through some of my uni friends and how it was part of their life. I came to respect it even if I didn't believe in it. From what I have seen, I do think it enriches the lives of those who live a Christian life.

[maraboutslim]

There is nothing wrong with Christianity,

except that people think its a religion. It isn't. It's a way of life. Even some supposed "Christians" think this way as well.

Hogwash. It may be a way of life, but it is a way of life based on a specific, exclusionary, belief system. That defines it as a religion.

Christians can be pleasant people on the surface. But if they are real "Christians", they must believe that all non-christians are doomed and going to hell. That all non-christians are wrong and don't understand the way things really should be, don't behave in the proper manner, and so on. American Oyaji will try to say that he doesn't feel that way and doesn't look down on other people, but he absolutely must if he believes the word of his lord. It's a requirement of the belief system of Christianity. It is not open to interpretation by individual Christians.

[Taro Toporific]

{{the Japanese}} In a good way. Not in a fake, "I believe X" way, but in a totally integrated system for dealing with the natural world...

This is the Japanese "system for dealing with the natural world."

Japanese don't have to have a theological "Hell" cause they DIY.



Refer to Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Japan by Alex Kerr
Read the key references here in the 47 samples pages posted on Amazon.com.

People who admire the Japanese traditional arts make much of the "love of nature" that inspired sand gardens, bonsai, ikebana flower arranging, and so forth, but they often fail to realize that the traditional Japanese approach is the opposite of a laissez-faire attitude towards nature. These arts were strongly influenced by the military caste that ruled Japan for many centuries, and they demand total control over every branch and twig.

.... In the early 1990s, construction investment overall in Japan consumed 18.2 percent of the gross national product, versus 12.4 percent in the United Kingdom and only 8.5 percent in the United States. Japan spent about 8 percent of its GDP on public works (veersus 2 percent in the United States -- proportionally four times more). By 2000 it was estimated that Japan was spending about 9 percent of its GDP on public works (versus only 1 percent in the United States): in a decade, the share of GDP devoted to public works has risen to nearly ten times that of the United States. -- The colossal subsidies flowing to construction mean that the combined national budget devotes an astounding 40 percent of expenditures to public works (versus 8 to 10 percent in the United States and 4 to 6 percent in Britain and France). -- by 1998 it (the construction industry) employed 6.9 million people, more than 10 percent of Japan's workforce--more than double the relative numbers in the United States and Europe. Experts estimate that as many as one in five jobs in Japan depends on construction, if one includes work that derives indirectly from public-works contracts. -- In 1994, concrete production in Japan totaled 91.6 million tons, compared with 77.9 millions tons in the United States. This means that Japan lays about thirty times as much per square foot as the United States. -- By the end of the century...shoreline that had been encased in concrete has risen to 60 percent or more. -- There are more than a thousand controlled hazardous substances in the United States,...In Japan, as of 1994 only a few dozen substances were subject to government controls...

[thepumpkinclock]

While it's true that there are some Christian fundamentalists that believe this type of stuff (non-Christian=Brimstone and hellfire), you guys should keep in mind that most branches of Christianity (such as Catholicism) are pretty liberal about their feelings on other religions (Pope John Paul II went so far as to publicly apologized for any anti-Semitic actions committed by Christians while visiting Israel).

I don't know, I guess it's just the fact that you guys attack Christianity so readily and without remorse that's a little unsettling I mean, really, don't you think praising the slaughter and crucifixion of Christians is a bit much? I'm all for respect for personal beliefs, but you guys are kind of taking the other extreme.

[kamome]

[cliffy]

Umm, the Catholic Church excomunicated(sp?) my family because my paternal grandfather fell in love and married a non-Catholic woman. Agreed that was in 1938 but even when I was born, in 1967, the same Parish, different Priest, went as far as to state that I would never be accepted in the eyes of God because of my Grandfather's " betrayal of the faith". No one approched them about this they approached my mother and father. I am a little bemused and bitter about this and have never recieved any explanation from any Church official about this behavior exept a non official acceptance that this did indeed happen in the old days but not now from a Catholic Priest who I have respect for as a person.
All Christian faiths that I have any experience with have faults in their practice BECAUSE of individual interpretations and internal politicking.

Just my experiences, I am happily agnostic, charitable when able and hopefuly more tolerant than most "Churchies" of my experience, of different cultures and beliefs. Not that I am claiming to be perfect, I have my myriad faults, but I can accept and work against them.
This post will upset some people, such is life.

[thepumpkinclock]

There is only one person who can excommunicate a member of the Catholic church, and that would be the guy in Rome with the huge hat. Not only that, but there is also the fact there nowhere in holy doctrine is it written that a union of separate faiths would be considered grounds for excommunication, soo...

Are you sure it isn't just that your family was kicked out of your worshiping church? This is probably the case, and if so you have a ignorant and moronic parish over there (Can I ask which state it was in? I'm going to bet Southern; much more strict and non-understanding).

[ramchop]

[quote="thepumpkinclock"](Can I ask which state it was in? I'm going to bet Southern]

Queensland is now a southern state of America.

[thepumpkinclock]

Oh, come now, don't start pigeonholing Southerners

Pigeonholing sounds like a sexual position. Haha, don't misinterpret! It's just that, well, guess where the majority of those fanatical zealots who live by the ideals of "we're right, you're wrong" are from?

(Gah, and I mean stereotypical south such as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, etc., rather than geographically).

I enjoy friend catfish myself.

[cliffy]

[quote="thepumpkinclock"]There is only one person who can excommunicate a member of the Catholic church, and that would be the guy in Rome with the huge hat. Not only that, but there is also the fact there nowhere in holy doctrine is it written that a union of separate faiths would be considered grounds for excommunication, soo...

Are you sure it isn't just that your family was kicked out of your worshiping church? This is probably the case, and if so you have a ignorant and moronic parish over there (Can I ask which state it was in? I'm going to bet Southern]

As I stated this was going to upset some people , BUT it did happen nomatter what you feel should have happened. Also as alluded to by Ramchop, the world is a larger place than the U.S.A. sonny-jim
But I do agree with the moronic parish but at the time it was almost universal (Catholic) practise just not written .