A Christian in Japan
The topic of religion can be a very sensitive matter to some especially when followers of a religion is steadfast about their religion being the only ONE true thing in the whole wide world while other religions are false and lies. This video is about a Christian man who is currently living in Japan with his non-Christian Japanese wife. They have a son. I applaud his beliefs of not baptizing his son at such a young and tender age because he believes that choice to be a Christian should ultimately be his son’s decision. I find that very reasonable and logical.
I personally try to respect all religions although I don’t believe in the systematic order of a religion. Reason being, I feel that a person’s relationship with god is not measured by
1) the number of times s/he goes to church/temple or
2) the number of people s/he converted or
3) the number of lines s/he is able to memorize and recite or
4) the amount of money s/he donates to the church/temple
5) the confessions made in the confession’s booth
To me God(s) does not lie in any four walls or in a book. To follow without questioning is liken to follow in the dark. While this man in the video is in Japan to be with his wife, he is also there to spread Christianity. At least, that’s what I am getting from him. I have nothing against him spreading his beliefs unless he starts shoving it down on other people, which he is not doing (which is good). But there is judgment from his video and in the comments he’s posted in replies thus far that has rubbed me the wrong way. He said that he loves truth and hates lies - implying that other religions/culture/beliefs as lies - wouldn’t that equate to hating other religions/cultures/beliefs?
In a way, while this guy sound like a friendly bloke who is open to the Japanese culture, there is an air of being judgmental in him. Well, not just him but in many Christians, I know. That look they give and that blinding deep belief that other religions are lesser and cannot be comparable to their “one true religion” ….which incidentally is being torn down bit by bit with scientific proof that Jesus isn’t more than just a human being but a great one like Martin Luther King/John Lennon of his era. Except Martin Luther King/John Lennon was not made “god” after they were shot to death.
I know the guy in the video explained how it’s not like this: Xtian = good ppl = heaven. But explaining that only means he admits that not all xtians are good people, fair enough, BUT he probably wouldn’t deny that Xtians go to heaven; while non-xtians would not.
To believe without questioning in a religious book/scripture/sutra when we are never quite sure of its authenticity is liken to following in the dark. For argument sake, how can you be sure anymore if these “holy books” are the very same passed down thousands of years ago? It’s been rewritten, re-volumed, reprinted, re-everything - passed down from one century to another, and if you’ve played the game called Chinese Whispers, you’ll know that the messaged when it reached the last person can sound very different from the original message.
To me, a religion like Christianity is like an army - recruiting as they go. Some of them even call themselves god’s army. While this guy may not be as extreme as the fools we see and read on TV and the News, it is in the essence of the Xtian teaching to convert as many people as they can with the purpose of “saving lost souls”. And in some places, this purpose is taken very seriously that it bores undesirable social expectations and actions against non-xtians. Lost souls… isn’t that a judgment to think that non-xtians are lost souls?
While I understand it’s nice to find another fellow christian in a land like Japan, it’s human nature to want to belong in a group, it’s not very feasible to want to change the culture and beliefs of the Japanese that’s already etch far too deeply in their grains - there wouldn’t be a Japan like today had the Knights of Templar set foot on this land of the far East; that we know for sure.
And since, there are many different people in the world and no one individual is the same, where is the logic that beliefs and cultures should be uniform? Believe all you want but don’t belie being human; differences is what makes the world tick.
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December 16th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
“which incidentally is being torn down bit by bit with scientific proof that Jesus isn’t more than just a human being but a great one like Martin Luther King/John Lennon of his era.”
What scientific proof? Do you have scientific proof that he wasn’t the son of God?
“For argument sake, how can you be sure anymore if these “holy books” are the very same passed down thousands of years ago? It’s been rewritten, re-volumed, reprinted, re-everything - passed down from one century to another, and if you’ve played the game called Chinese Whispers, you’ll know that the messaged when it reached the last person can sound very different from the original message.”
A lot of people seem to think this is the case. All you need to do is go and read any scholarly work on the Bible to see how translators go from the source manuscripts, to something we can read today.
And yes, Christianity does involve making judgements between right and wrong, good and bad, true and false, going to heaven and not going to heaven. The issue for everyone is this: if it’s all false then no-one need worry about it and all other religions are true. But if Christianity is true, then all the other religions are false. And then it’s time to take notice, isn’t it?
December 20th, 2007 at 3:42 am
“…if it’s all false then no-one need worry about it and all other religions are true. But if Christianity is true, then all the other religions are false. And then it’s time to take notice, isn’t it?”
I don’t understand what you mean there. I don’t think Christianity is false, neither do I think other religion false. That is my main point. There is no such thing as one true religion. If “god” made man different then why shouldn’t there be different religions, different beliefs, different cultures? If there is more acceptance for differences from Christianity AND Islam (both Abrahamic religions), the world would be a happier place. I am only saying this because these two religions claim to have the largest following in the world.
There are scientific proof on the National Geographic Channel even. You just need to look for it on YouTube or download it off torrents.
“What scientific proof? Do you have scientific proof that he wasn’t the son of God?”
I can always turn the question around to you. What is your proof that he IS the son of some supreme entity? I respect your faith and beliefs but I don’t see it as a type of proof because it is subjective; as are all beliefs.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I’m sorry my friend…but the second you mentioned scientific proof against Jesus (when you didn’t need to) you clearly nonchalantly tried discredit Christians. To top it all off, you “respect” Christian beliefs (all religions)…wouldn’t it be a huge disrespect to say “sorry guys but your GOD is just a regular Joe…it’s been proven”.
Lastly, God didnt create humanity as a whole. He created Adam & Eve which were allowed and encouraged to procreate. That means that WE chose to have different gods…since when has our choices equalled God’s will. And who said in order to be different, you need a new god and religion. I could be a Puerto Rican who loves Italian food, the color silver, and the Japanese language…is that not differed enough?
You know if I was evil and a very powerful being and I knew I could influence mankind into distracting them from loving the person that I hated, don’t you I would influence them to think as you do?
There is but one God, one Satan, one Heaven, one Earth, one Hell, and one YOU. Pray that you are right and we are wrong.
December 27th, 2007 at 5:28 am
Well, I didn’t try to discredit Xtianity. I just tried to discredit the fact that Jesus was more than just a great man. I am sorry if your religion is based on Jesus being something supernatural though.
“Lastly, God didnt create humanity as a whole. He created Adam & Eve which were allowed and encouraged to procreate. That means that WE chose to have different gods…since when has our choices equalled God’s will. And who said in order to be different, you need a new god and religion. I could be a Puerto Rican who loves Italian food, the color silver, and the Japanese language…is that not differed enough?”
You realize how much “sense” you make, right?
Happy Holidays. :)