Author Topic: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study  (Read 4623 times)

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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
Kamikaze were heavily religiously motivated so IDK what the confusion is.
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Offline AdmiralRalwood

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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
I'd agree with you, but as soon as I read this and re-read this I am always reminded of Japanese kamikaze pilots and wondering what religious motivations drove them.
...Are you serious?

Do you even know what "kamikaze" means?
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(the very next day)
<MageKing17> this ****ing code did it to me again
<MageKing17> "That doesn't really make sense to me, but I'll assume it was being done for a reason."
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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
kami=god
kaze=wind

So yeah, I'd say there was some religious motivation in there.
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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
I've always thought that they were mainly motivated by patriotism. Learn something new every day.

 

Offline Dragon

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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
I'd call it nationalism (I prefer to reserve the word "patriotism" for when this kind of thing doesn't go too far). Actually, the name is a reference to a religious reference, which originally referred to an actual wind. Specifically, one that sunk a Mongol fleet trying to invade Japan. WWII Kamikaze pilots were more motivated by the Japanese ideals of honor and Samurai tradition rather than religion. That said, their devotion to Emperor and their country was reminiscent, in many ways, of religious devotion. He did sort-of hijack Shinto to stir up this devotion even further, but I think that what drove Kamikaze pilots would be better classified as particularly fierce nationalism.

Eastern religions are very different from Western ones, though. Shinto is polytheistic and there are variants of Buddhism that don't involve beliefs in any gods. They're also far more of a personal matter than Western religions. In case of Japan, the Emperor (and through him, the state he was the head of) was practically elevated to a position not unlike that of God. The Japanese blindly believed in Emperor and the authorities in general, taking absurd claims of victories at a face value and volunteering for Kamikaze squadrons. So it might not be religious devotion, but it's very possible to practically make nationalism into religion if the conditions are right.

 

Offline Bobboau

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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
Trying to separate religion from nationalism in pre WW2 Japan is like trying to separate oil from another slightly lighter oil, after three weeks in a blender. Separation of church and state is a concept utterly alien to most of humanity throughout history. modern western culture is actually kinda weird in that regard.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2016, 08:03:52 pm by Bobboau »
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DEUTERONOMY 22:11
Thou shalt not wear a garment of diverse sorts, [as] of woollen and linen together

 
Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
Trying to separate religion from nationalism in pre WW2 Japan is like trying to separate oil from another slightly lighter oil, after three weeks in a blender.
* Perihelion tries applying a separation tower to religion and nationalism
Nah, it's not working for me.  [ducks]
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But everything is so meaningful, and most everything turns to ****.
Rejoice."
-David Bazan

 

Offline Bobboau

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Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
I did not mean lighter by mass/density
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DEUTERONOMY 22:11
Thou shalt not wear a garment of diverse sorts, [as] of woollen and linen together

 
Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
Basically what Dragon said.

 
Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
If you promise someone an exalted afterlife if they kill themselves for your cause then I'd say that's comfortably religious.
The good Christian should beware of mathematicians, and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of Hell.

 
Re: American devotion to religion is waning, according to new study
I'm now even more convinced that religion is potentially the most powerful form of control.
Spoiler:
Makes me think of Ubuntu and the Vishnans... wait, Ubuntu isn't officially a religion. Ugh.

EDIT: Whoops, Blue Planet spoiler.
« Last Edit: March 19, 2016, 04:58:26 pm by GhylTarvoke »