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Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
JAPAN
Religion
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Religion
The Japanese
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%).
The Shinto
religion is unique to Japan; the institution of the emperor is supported
by Shintoism.
Christianity
(about 4 percent) and other religions (18 percent) are also present in
Japan. There is no official religion. The Japanese tend to adapt their
religion to modern life; for example, they will have new businesses blessed.
Japanese religious
practice tends to be socially oriented and selective rather than a matter
of deep personal commitment. In today's everyday life of a Japanese
person, religion is not very important. The average Japanese just follows
the religious rituals at a few ceremonies such as births, weddings and
funerals. The Japanese are very tolerant of religious differences,
and may even practice both Buddhism and Shinto concurrently. Many
people are married in a Shinto ceremony but select a Buddhist funeral.
The Japanese
have a different relation to religions than most other peoples do. This
may be partly due to the fact that Shinto and Buddhism, the two major
religions of Japan, could always exist side by side and even melted together
to a certain degree. In addition, Japan is one of the few countries of
this world which has not been colonialized by a Christian nation in the
past.
Links to
More Information
World Religions
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