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Ronin4hire (Offline)
Busier Than Shinjuku Station
 
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05-16-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM View Post

Also, from my understanding 宗教 means "religion". When you start breaking kanji pairs apart you are asking for trouble. Even if the individual characters mean something different, 宗教 means religion in pretty much the same context as it does in the West. 東京 means "East Capital" (Tokyo) but when people talk about Tokyo in Japan they are not reminded of the fact that it is the capital in the East.
I see your point but this is what has been told to me by my (Japanese) religious studies teacher and I think it is valid at least in order to make his case. Its not the only example he gives but to present another example would be to talk about the histories and characteristics of Christianity and "Western" religions which I fear would start trouble and get this thread shut down (if you know what I mean).

Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM View Post
I don't think Japanese people have a hard time understanding what "religion" means. I think what you are seeing is that in Japan, religion is not the underlying reason for most decision making. There is no battle between religion and secularism because religion doesn't play a competing role against secularism in Japan.
Well I would say that they dont know what religion means and the reason for that is that WE dont know what it means. My professor defines religion academically by saying it is "philosophy + ritual". What we've done in the West is create a whole new paradigm called "religion" which exists APART from Philosophy AND ritual. The Japanese simply haven't made this seperation and that is why religion doesnt translate into "Shuukyou". An example.. generally in the West we dont compare the teachings of Christianity with the teachings of the political ideologies Liberalism or Communism (not without Christians complaining about how it is not the same at least). Theoretically a Japanese person generally speaking can without second thought.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM View Post
I would say on the contrary many of the traditions followed in Japan are very much based on religious traditions. However, that does not make the average Japanese "religious" as much as "traditional".

Many Japanese visit their local shrines at New Year's as a once-yearly tradition. They donate money and purchase charms...by Western standards this is hardly following a faith...you should go weekly to be involved...but that daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly dedication is arbitrary.
...and this is the ritual aspect of religion.

Last edited by Ronin4hire : 05-16-2010 at 09:15 AM.
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