Religion

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Religion

• The roles of religion
• Confucian basis of universal, but non-religious
  values
• Buddhisms lingering guidance in life and death
• Shintos lingering guidance in birth and life
• Christianitys disproportionate influence
• The search for meaning and a group in new
  religions

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Religion

• Reflect on whether religion plays a significant
  role in shaping behavior and enriching life in
  Japan.

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The roles of religion

• The search for meaning, spirituality, and
  salvation
• A foundation of universal values, ethics, and
  rituals
• The need for community or groups

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Confucian basis of universal, but non-religious
values

• A secular philosophy of social order and
  ethics--not a religion
• Premodern (Tokugawa period) establishment
• Replacement in science, economics and politics by
  Western rationality
• Continuing basis of Japanese social order

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Buddhisms lingering guidance in life and death

• Mahayana varieties esoteric (monastic),
  salvation, zen
• Premodern and modern suppression and use for
  family registration
• Living museums and funeral enriched monks
• Influence throughout Japanese life

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Shintos lingering guidance in birth and life

• The creation and destruction of a state religion
• Lifes rituals
• Community festivals
• Reverence for nature and purity

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Christianitys disproportionate influence

• Historic growth and extermination
• Bundled with modernization and Westernization
• Offerings individualism, clarity of ethics,
  charity, education, rituals

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The search for meaning and a group in new
religions

• 180,000 varieties
• 6 million in Soka Gakkai
• The significance of Aum Shinrikyos extremism?

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Sumo do, Sumo dont (Shiko funjatta)

• When the two sumo wrestlers go to recruit others
  wrestlers, why does the experienced sumo wrestler
  not have to wear the mawashi (sumo jockstrap)?
• Why does the new pro-wrestler Cutie Haruo have to
  dress like a girl?
• The tatemae of the Kyoritsu sumo club is their
  participation in the tournament like all other
  clubs. What is the honne of the sumo club?
• What will determine whether the male star (of the
  film) graduates from University?
• Briefly explain the conflict between continuity
  and change expressed in this film?
• Choose one character to explain the relationship
  between the individual and the group.
• Does Smiley understand Japanese religion?