Christianity in Anime

[HeavyMetal]

Old habits die hard, like the sneeze issue. I figured you meant in the past, but extra info is always good. I think you are correct Yuki Kedamono the religion aspect just adds an extra vantage point or significance to the show.

HeavyMetal wrote:
Marx, its creator, just felt that religion was a way for the upper class to control the masses.


You hit the nail on the head right there. This is exactly the reason I consider myself agnostic and (from the people I have spoken to) it's the primary reason "agnostic" is growing as an appealing choice among people who take part in surveys like the one you found the info on.

I also said that is not always the case. Of course when things are past down from generation to generation sometimes the original purpose changes or purpose is lost entirely.

Here is an example of beliefs that stem from the common man. Confucious was a man born to lower nobility with no real power so to speak. He simply thought a lot and was a great scholar and philosopher. He had ideas about government, living life, and many other things that can help people find happiness in their lives. The advice he gave people attracted followers who would created a form of religion around his beliefs.

Sadly he died thinking he had failed to make a difference. However, sometime after Confucious died his ideas were used to create a government that would hold for some 1000 years ending a great deal of death, war, and suffering for common people.

Personally I consider myself spiritual. I think there are things beyond simple matter. However, I do not think any one group of people or even humanity entirely could ever comprehend the infinite with only the finite from which to base their understanding. So I try to take the good points of all religion without falling victim to narrow views. I guess I fall in the agnostic category, but I just make my own thoughts and beliefs. Just something for you to consider BasharOfTheAges.

This brings me to my next point. Saiyuki is Buddhist. It is based on the same Chinese story as Dragonball.

cholinms
Thank you I should have thought of that. Yeah, Christmas was pagan right down to the tree. 1+1=2 damn why did I not put that together.

As for the most recent topic I think it is contrast to have a gun wielding holy man. Like in UHF with Gandhi II.

I think it gives the character a position from which to analyze the morality of the actions he must take or the path he must walk.

[MCWagner]

another good example.. though they don't talk about it MUCH... is FMA, they talk about stepping on the toes of God or defying God an all these other thigns that signify God... ^_^ tha's just a little piece of it...like evangalion i had mentioned earlier... it's not all about it... just semi-basic..

Sort of... Alchemy by its very nature is sort-of Christian. Despite what teachers always told me in chemistry class, alchemy was much more of a religon or branch of spiritualism or occultism than a science, deriving from Christian and Jewish mysticism (see the original "golem" tale... though not technically alchemy), with a big dose of ancient Greek philosophy. It was essentially an attempt at applied theology, trying to figure out "God's laws" for the workings of the natural world. Creation of the mythical philosopher's stone, for example, depended on a long series of strange chemical purifications that required the Alchemist to attain a level of spiritual purity as well. The irony is that, upon having made the philosopher's stone, which could transform base (earthly) metals into (heavenly) gold, the Alchemist wouldn't have desired the wealth it would give him.

[OtakuMan22]

As for the most recent topic I think it is contrast to have a gun wielding holy man. Like in UHF with Gandhi II.

"Gimme a steak! Medium Rare!"

"HEY BALDY!"

*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT*

"GANDHI 2!"

That's a good point, a great reference, and MAN did I love that movie!

~Otaku-Man

[DTJB]

The insight all of you have provided has really helped out a lot. I didn't think the topic would get this great of a response.

It's similar to how many Western movies will incorporate aspects of other religions in popular films- Hinduism and tribal religions in the Indiana Jones movies, many Buddhist concepts in Star Wars (among other religious concepts) and the Kill Bill movies, and on and on.

Man, I'm surprised I never made that connection.

So basically if you want to know "why" it is that Christianity pops up in Anime as it does when it's an uncommon religion in Japan, it's the same reason they print stuff in english and have random things said in english in anime and have random lines of songs in english: because it's flashy and trendy and people think it's cool and it helps it sell.

That was one of the theories I was leaning towards.

And if you believe the whole Judeo-Christian creation story you have to realize that from 1 man and 1 woman the earth was populated; so someone was screwing their sister, daughter, niece, etc. somewhere; and probably more than just a few times.

I always thought that was pretty interesting.

That's a good point, a great reference, and MAN did I love that movie!

"SUPPLIES!"

[fireadept]

Religion is often used oftenly to show a similarity between the anime and the real world to show eitehr a time period or place, to underline the views or actions of a character or as satire to display a certain point of who ever is using it in the present situation to display an ideal or action. I don't see why any religion at all is featured in any show, it only offends many. Religion is a touchy subject depending on how you treat it, some people can really be upset by how a religion is portraid even if it is portraid historically accurately, I find that it would be better if religions were to be based of actual religions in anime,

[HeavyMetal]

Religion is often used oftenly to show a similarity between the anime and the real world to show eitehr a time period or place, to underline the views or actions of a character or as satire to display a certain point of who ever is using it in the present situation to display an ideal or action. I don't see why any religion at all is featured in any show, it only offends many. Religion is a touchy subject depending on how you treat it, some people can really be upset by how a religion is portraid even if it is portraid historically accurately, I find that it would be better if religions were to be based of actual religions in anime,

Not sure what you meant by the last sentence. Base real religion off of fictional religion?

If people are offended they should not watch. Everything offends someone. The truest of Buddhist monks may be offended if you squash a spider that crawls into your bed, but I image most people would still do it.

To live a censored life for the sensibilities of countless others is to live no life at all.

That's a good point, a great reference, and MAN did I love that movie!

Otakuman22, I am glad someone other than myself knows of Conan the Librarian.

Another example of the holy man with a gun would be Morpheus from The Matrix, a movie with strong ties to both Christianity and anime.

I found him to be like a monk with a gun, with cool and calm lines like "Would that include a bullet from this gun."

Religion is relatable, but action is fun.

[fireadept]

Base anime religion of real religion, sorry if i wasnt clear, religion is not something to really mess with, think of the wars its caused and will caused. Religion has a heavy power and should be handled with people who know not to offend people needlessly.

[EmilLang1000]

True, basing Anime religion off of something that already exists makes sense; but then again, basing a fictitious religion too closely off of an already-existing one isn't much fun; it doesn't leave much to the imagination.
I think what's best for an author to do is look at religions in the past, and current religions, take aspects here and there to build some sort of base, then let everything go from there. Two prime examples: Star Wars and Lord of the Rings; SW had the Jedi and Sith religions, which were based on aspects of buddhism and taoism, with a little Christianity mixed in for mythology; Lord of the Rings was heavily based on Christian, Norse, and Celtic mythologies.
Creating an entire universe is an incredible task, and one of the most pivitol aspects is establishing the religions it. While people expect aspects of the religions to be similar to our own, to have religions be entirely identical makes the believability of the universe as a whole deminish. Take Fullmetal Alchemist - religious themes are essential to the show, and while Christianity is mentioned directly, it's mentioned as a dead religion, though one that obviously influenced the Ishvarlan and Sun God religions, and thus lead to great turmoil among peoples.
And as for offending people needlessly? That's going to happen anyway. I knew some people who loved Lord of the Rings until I introduced them to The Silmarillion, after which they realized that it was one big religious story and shied away from it because it conflicted with their beliefs - despite the fact, of course, that Tolkien was an orthodox Catholic and wrote the chronicles of Middle Earth so as to not conflict with Christianity.
Creating a religion is one of the most difficult and imaginative things about creating an entire universe; to simply copy an already-existing religion would simply cheapen the world and make it unrealistic to the viewers.

[OtakuMan22]

You know, I don't know if anyone saw this anime, but the whole topic of "Made-up religions for use in a fictional story" versus "Actual religions in real life used in a fictional story" reminds me of Green Legend Ran.

I can't remember the name of the religion they had in there, but man there was some freaky stuff in there. Deep stuff too!

I hope they re-release it on DVD with a NON-Sci-Fi channel version! (Man, I had a major grudge against Sci-Fi channel when they did that long ago!)

~Otaku-Man

[asrrin29]

I am very surprised that so many people think Evangelion is based off of christian mythology. most of the symbolism in it are direct references to Jewish Mystisim and the Kabalah(SP?). The whole Idea of Lilith, Adam's first wife, is a story from jewish mystisim and not christianity. Seeing as how the two releigions are so heavly intertwined with eachother however, it is easy to see why it gets so confused, but correct me if I am wrong, there are no references in Eva from the new Testament. (alright, maybe the Lance of Loginus, but anything after the death of Christ still stands