One of the hot topics in Korean chat korean missionaries hostage incident. With this in mind, i am wondering whether there are many christian missionaries in Japan and how successful they are in converting Japanese to Christianity. Sorry, I could be wrong. I think the young generation of Japanese is very vulnerable and easily tempted to convert as Christianity is normally associated with modern / western culture.

The young are always vulnerable...

Missionaries are more successful in poor, undeveloped countries... taking advantage of the suffering of people. Japan is a developed country so missionaries should be and is usually unsuccessful.

Good job in talking about something completely different.

^ what? we're talking about how successful missionaries are in Japan?

Christianity is good

Christian groups are obsessed with getting more and more members although those Christian converts dont believe in Jesus.. all they know is christmas.

I guess they have to start with the Europeans and Americans. Most of them are "Christian" in their formal documents, identification cards etc.. but they actually dont church at all or dont practise christianity. The average church attendance in Europe is 10%. So they better start with Europe and US, not presuring Asians and Africans to convert..

My friend went to Osaka on a missionary a while ago.
For some reason it feels like Osaka is where the majority of people who believe in Christ are
Whenever I hear a group going to Japan on a missionary, it's always Osaka.
And I met this girl at school who was a Japanese Catholic and she was from Osaka.
But from what my friend told me, when it comes to Christianity in Japan, the Japanese and Koreans are very close together. Lots of Koreans are at the Japanese churches since they're usually the ones who are pushing it.
I once read an article that said before WW2, there were lots of Japanese Christians who resided in Hiroshima and/or Nagasaki. But once the U.S bombed those two areas, majority of Japanese-Christians died along with it.

i have only encountered one japanese who is a christian..

most of the ones i talk to are nominal buddhists..

some say they don't have religion.. (but i think they do, they just don't realize it)

Religions have been used to influence and thus "take over" psychologically/culturally. Why are so many Filipinos Catholic? Why is religion regional and geological?

How can they have religion if they don't realize it?

You mean, like go pay a visit in some temple, pray for lucks/wishes, and etc? I am athiest, but I do go pay a visit in Buddhist/Taoist temple and stuff.

Anyways, it seems that only 1% of population in Japan are Christians while 28% of population in South Korea are. Both were occupied by American and under Anglosphere. So... I guess Christianity isn't popular in Japan.

Korea is the most Christian nation in Asia. Yet, many of them on this board have referred to Japan as a "white-washed" nation.

Kudos to Japan for rejecting the white man's religion!

You missed out Philippines

I've never known any Japanese people that were Christians.

When my mother was a little girl, a Catholic missionary gave her a crucifix. She gave it to her mom who put it next to her Buddha and they paid homage to both. When the missionaries found out, they said this was unacceptable so my grandmother gave the crucifix back.

Christianity ruins every nation it touches. Just as it once ruined Europe and is currently ruining America. It has ruined the Philippines. The only reason it hasn't ruined SK is because it is America is propping up SK as a bulwark against NK. Were it not for American propping, SK would be just another Philippines.

I think the people of SK are too smart to accept Christianity. Christianity always occupies the lowest 20% in intelligence of every country it tries to infest, because naturally only idiots would believe such a ridiculous string of desert myths.



Good riddance.

Christians conquered my Pagan ancestors in Europe.

actually the religion originated in the middle east

Well, first off, that missionary was wrong you can be buddhist and a christian at the same time. Also, I don't know how you can say that a religion that promotes peace is responsible for ruining a country, maybe you are referring to wars were religion is a scape goat. Christianity is not responsible for any wars, it's only corrupt politicians who exploit people's beliefs.

this is like saying the nuclear bomb wasn't responsible for all those people dying only the people who dropped it. this is why its ok to have nukes.

Japan is actually more western than Korea. Religion has nothing to do with westernization (i.e "white washing"). Liberalism is more associated with being "white washed". Places like Japan and Taiwan are much more liberal than Korea. Korea is still a highly developed neo-Confucian society and even to this day rejects gay rights, has a conservative outlook on society and behaviour and family values are strictly governed. Japan's legal system is much more compareable to Europes, while Korea's legal system is compareable to Joseon dynasty or ancient China.

Also Korea isnt the most Christian nation in the world. 48% athiest, 26% buddhist, 26% christian (CIA factbook).

I think if you Christianize a whole Asian country...THAT is more westernized than a country that is liberal. What would you think is more Asianized? The USA being ALL Buddist or the USA being ALL Conservative?

not according to history.

, that’s so true. All I know is Christmas. No, I’m not a Christian or religious in the least for that matter.


Why you say that? Cause you think Jesus was a blue-eyed blonde "white" man? Christianity is not a white man’s religion.


lolz.. You sound bitter.
How can you say that about something you don’t know anything about? How would you like it if someone says that about your beliefs?


So true.
No religion = World peace! Seriously, think about it.


That’s just dumb.



Exactly.

Religion does have a role in changing a society.

good

I say that because it was white men who spread the religion thoughout the world. Sometimes by force.

On a historic note. Christianity was first brought into Japan by the Portuguese (I forget date). It was later banned by the Japanese Emperor and Japan became isolated for a considerable length of time. It was later made legal again.

No, it's not like saying that at all.

Basically you're saying that Christianity is responsible for war? I don't think you know much about Christianity, because like I said, it's a religion that promotes peace. Please tell me anywhere in the bible where it says "kill the non-believers", please I would really like you to find this passage. Nuclear Bomb = Christianity, please do your homework.

It's a religion that's supposed to promote peace. There's a difference.

There's Christianity and misrepresentation of Christianity, see the difference? Like True Prophets and False Prophets.

Seems like more misrepresent Christianity then....especially the famous historical ones....many leaders, etc. Is Manifest Destiny misrepresentation?

The true representation is bad and so are many misrepresentations, but Jesus' teachings are generally good. Only it's been done before.

mikekk,

Liberalism is a western movement in ALL society. Liberalism was introduced in the west and involved social movements, such as gay rights, globalisation, equal pay for both genders, women movements and anti-chauvanism. Japan has all of that. Korea does not and by a far margin as well. Japan as a whole is much more globalized than Korea (which is not a bad thing). There are 20 times more western fast food places (aka McDonalds) in Japan than South Korea. There is also much more demand for American products in Japan than South Korea. Also this is also why Japan is a very rich economy (much more acceptance to American trade and globalisation than South Korea).

Also Abrahamic religions are not western religions. They originanted in the middle-east. Also Buddhism is believed by millions of white people around the world. Your argument is neither valid or accurate. Also there are estimated 120+ million Chinese in CHINA that believe in Christianity. Is China a western country? Hell no.

Also there are 13 million Korean Christians (including Catholic and Protestant). Then I dont understand why Confucianism (an Eastern ideology and social system) exists in the WHOLE of Korean society? This immediately disproves your argument that Christianity is a western religion.

Also the reason why Korea isnt very liberal (even though the governemt's ideology is liberal), is that Confucianism is strictly governed by the family (both parents and grandparents and older sibling to younger sibling). If I recall correctly, Confucianism disappeared in Japan as liberalism was the Japanese people's main ideology (which isnt necessarily a bad thing).

So as a whole, which country is more western, Japan or Korea? I think many people tend to agree that Japan is more associated with the west because it has soaked up western influence since the early 19th century. But I will let you argue otherwise.

Actually Korean society's thinking and behaviour has not changed, if at all. The 13 million Christians in Korea are Confucianists as well as are the Buddhists. So each Korean's attitude and behaviour in society is the same regardless of religion. Political, legal and social ideology is much more important to a society's values, morals and structure than religion. Religion is like a science, it is what you believe in YOURSELF, not how you act in whole society. You can think of religion as a secret cave of worship.

You have your own RELIGION don't say Christians are bad!

Japan could be a Christian country! But now, why is it not?

Because according to history a Japanese emperor was brainwashed and told to kill Christians!

I am a Christian so try to respect other religions!

Many leaders and prophets bcoz to spread God's word! Haven't you heard of the BIBLE?

I think I'm talking more about the historical impact religion has had. But I still believe religion has a role in changing society.

But isnt Japan already very "white-washed"? They claim they are westerners rather than Asian and they want to become like white people. I think that sounds pretty "white-washed" to me.

They became white-washed after WWII, which many Japanese consider to be the rebirth of the country i.e. Japan 2.

I am actually serious about this. Japan, I think, is much more westernized than Korea, and many people tend to agree with this statement. I heard the teenagers in Japan are much more relaxed like their western counterparts. Is this true? In Korea students tend to very pressured. Both have both its positives and negative aspects. Even though majority of Koreans are not poor, there is still much pressure and mentality to study pretty much everyday up until midnight. I am not sure about Japan but I heard they are much more relaxed about this idea, which is neither good or bad.

until end of war,the most PPl of Japanese Imperial Household Agency were christians.



Japan is not westernaized country.
i think Japan is modernized country

japan is westernized. there is no doubt about that.

It would be good if all christians were to think like you ( respect other religions ), then they won't go around trying to get people to convert. Don't you think those missionaries are in a way disrespect other religions ?

Um...which over-seer who represents all of Japan said THAT?

Japan is both modern AND western. Their legal system is totally western compared to Korea's. In fact Korea's legal system is entitely based on Confucian system. The legal system alone can change a society as it shapes the people's morals and values. Religion is like forcing yourself to read a book.

Recentry, Pro-Japanese in Korea is convicted by Ex post facto law.
I think it can not say it modernized country
about comfort women issue, US congress judged the history without an objective evidence and investigation like witch hunting.
if this is westernized. Japan is not westernaized country.
History is not a belief of religion

Actually, I don't have my own religion. I say Christians have been bad because they have. Any history book will tell you that.

Japan is a secular society where science and reason is placed on a higher level than faith.

Brainwashed? Just like Christians were brainwashed when they killed heretics in the Inquisition by using their holy book?

I respect your right to have a religion but not your religion itself.

^^^ I can hardly see how you think the bible told them to kill during the inquisition. It makes no sense, Jesus fu-king Christ people! Look in the bible it never once says to kill anyone because they have different beliefs. How many times do you have to have this repeated to you? Seriously, 5, 6, more? Please try to understand that most popular religions are very similar in their core meaning.

do you even know what westernized mean? i doubt it...

You obviously haven't read the Old Testament.

Here you go:
http://etext.virginia.edu/kjv.browse.html