UnpublishedWriter
Gatchamaniac
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 31-08-2009
Posts: 3156
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| quote: | Originally posted by JohngPR
Watching this episode with my son was equal parts awkward and hilarious.
When he saw Magma Jesus, my son said, "Uh....why does that monster look like Jesus?"
LOL |
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Although Christianity was brought to Japan in around the 16th Century (okay, I'm winging it), it never supplanted the indigenous religious faiths or Buddhism. It was brought by Europeans who were not backed by conquering armies. As a result, there was no reason the rulers and people of Japan to convert. So it never had a chance to permeate the culture.
As a practical result, it means the Japanese can use Christianity in fiction in ways no European or American would even dare to hint at. Neon Genesis Evangelion used quite a bit of Christian and Kabbalistic imagery, and the title itself is literally Greek (a translation of the Japanese). Can you imagine an American getting away with 'New Beginnings Gospel' as a title, and a premise of Earth being attacked by angels and defended by children piloting giant robots (who have their mother's souls)? Don't think so.
Oh, and 'Evangelion' was produced by Tatsunoko.
__________________
Benefits, not features; benefits, not features
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04-03-2010 03:21
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green
Gatchamaniac
I am a Condor.
0 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 15-11-2009
Posts: 7534
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| quote: | Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter
| quote: | Originally posted by JohngPR
Watching this episode with my son was equal parts awkward and hilarious.
When he saw Magma Jesus, my son said, "Uh....why does that monster look like Jesus?"
LOL |
|
Although Christianity was brought to Japan in around the 16th Century (okay, I'm winging it), it never supplanted the indigenous religious faiths or Buddhism. It was brought by Europeans who were not backed by conquering armies. As a result, there was no reason the rulers and people of Japan to convert. So it never had a chance to permeate the culture.
As a practical result, it means the Japanese can use Christianity in fiction in ways no European or American would even dare to hint at. Neon Genesis Evangelion used quite a bit of Christian and Kabbalistic imagery, and the title itself is literally Greek (a translation of the Japanese). Can you imagine an American getting away with 'New Beginnings Gospel' as a title, and a premise of Earth being attacked by angels and defended by children piloting giant robots (who have their mother's souls)? Don't think so.
Oh, and 'Evangelion' was produced by Tatsunoko. |
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Actually about 90% of Japanese will claim being Christian... And about 90% will claim they are Buddhists... And about that will claim they are Shintoists...
I love the Japanese idea of religion - there's room for them all, regardless of how much the ideologies might conflict with each other. Somehow they just make it work. The rest of the world could learn something from the Japanese when it comes to religious tolerance!
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Exaggeration misleads the credulous and offends the perceptive. ~Eliza Cook
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04-03-2010 07:46
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