A thread that kicked off with the question “If Japanese people have no religion, what do they lean on for spiritual support?” caught fire on 5ch’s Nanjatte Jikkyo G (Live News) board.
Discussion ranged from Shinto’s “eight million gods” and lingering traces of Buddhism to the role of the Imperial Family, with some even suggesting “maybe 2channel itself is our spiritual support.” Self-deprecating comments like “Japanese people are just empty inside” also surfaced, as posters traded a variety of takes on whether being irreligious is really a problem.
True that
Can people really not live without something to lean on?
Religion isn't much of a support to begin with anyway
The burning passion my dad left me, and that look in my mom's eyes (a riff on the *One Piece* opening theme lyrics)
>>10
Wait, what was that from again?
Wait, what was that from again?
>>10
Nevermind, figured it out
Nevermind, figured it out
That's exactly why it's not "no religion" — Shinto's just hard to wrap your head around
>>11
It's not really Shinto either though
It's not really Shinto either though
They say they're not religious but they're clearly doing Buddhist stuff
>>13
Is it really though?
Is it really though?
Honestly, these days there aren't many foreigners who lean on religion for support either
Does religion actually give you something to lean on in life? I don't have anything like that, so I envy people who do
Irreligious people are on the rise in the West
Saw it in the paper this morning
Saw it in the paper this morning
Reminder that foreigners aren't exactly religious either
"Self-confidence" (自信) is literally written with the characters for "believing in yourself"
You become a believer because you can't believe in yourself
And making believers is profitable
Old kanji really were well-designed characters
You become a believer because you can't believe in yourself
And making believers is profitable
Old kanji really were well-designed characters
Honestly, isn't leaning on religion for support the same as you guys leaning on 2ch?
>>24
Well, 2ch or religion aside, everyone relies on something — that's true for all of us
Well, 2ch or religion aside, everyone relies on something — that's true for all of us
No spiritual support, so they're desperate to one-up each other with jobs and status
Japanese people really are empty inside
Japanese people really are empty inside
>>33
Every single thing has its own god
And each god is respected
Isn't that the essence of Japan's "harmony above all" spirit?
Every single thing has its own god
And each god is respected
Isn't that the essence of Japan's "harmony above all" spirit?
Awe of the unknowable
>>36
Sounds like Xenoblade 2
Sounds like Xenoblade 2
The concept of the "eight million gods" is hard to grasp
Like how a god comes to dwell in something you've used for a long time — dolls, stuffed animals, even cars and other inanimate objects can end up with a god in them, that's a hard idea to understand
Like how a god comes to dwell in something you've used for a long time — dolls, stuffed animals, even cars and other inanimate objects can end up with a god in them, that's a hard idea to understand
>>41
This is basically Xenosaga at this point
This is basically Xenosaga at this point
Japanese people aren't completely irreligious
I think they just loosely and shallowly absorb teachings and events from a bunch of different religions and call it faith
I think they just loosely and shallowly absorb teachings and events from a bunch of different religions and call it faith
>>51
I wouldn't call that faith though
Well, if just showing up for the event itself counts as part of the faith, then sure, they've got faith
I wouldn't call that faith though
Well, if just showing up for the event itself counts as part of the faith, then sure, they've got faith
>>50
They got steeped in it once and have already moved on from it
Being steeped in Buddhism was a thing of the past — not now
They got steeped in it once and have already moved on from it
Being steeped in Buddhism was a thing of the past — not now
>>53
Even today enough of that foundation remains that most people feel disgust toward shady new religions — without that, Japan might have collapsed by now
Sadly, though, Buddhism doesn't have strong teachings against suicide
That's probably part of why the suicide rate is so unusually high
Even today enough of that foundation remains that most people feel disgust toward shady new religions — without that, Japan might have collapsed by now
Sadly, though, Buddhism doesn't have strong teachings against suicide
That's probably part of why the suicide rate is so unusually high
>>72
Probably a lot of Japanese people get to stay irreligious thanks to the Imperial Family
Probably a lot of Japanese people get to stay irreligious thanks to the Imperial Family
>>80
That's probably true
For Japanese people, the Imperial Family probably plays a role similar to the Pope
That's probably true
For Japanese people, the Imperial Family probably plays a role similar to the Pope
The strong belief in karma/cause-and-effect is pretty Buddhist if you think about it
>>85
Exactly that
Even without strong faith, it's definitely alive and well
Exactly that
Even without strong faith, it's definitely alive and well
※This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Nanjatte Jikkyo G) thread “Foreigner: “If Japanese People Have No Religion, What Do They Live For?”“.
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