2007年11月 2日
Religion (2)
Hi Team,
Thanks for your comments on a very difficult topic. Some of you made the point that people should be free to believe whatever they want. What Richard Dawkins and people like him are saying is that it is wrong to teach children that they should believe something just because their parents do, and it is wrong to teach them to believe something when there is no evidence that it is true. I know that religion in Japan is a very private thing, and actually, I'm not sure whether Buddhism is really a religion in the same way that Christianity and Islam are. (I mean that in a good way!) I think in many ways, Buddhism is closer to a philosophy than a religion. As far as I understand it, the main idea in Buddhism is that you must find answers to the most important questions in life by yourself. In the other religions, you are told what the answers are, and you are taught that if you question them you will go to hell!
In his book, Richard Dawkins tells the story of a woman whose friend died when she was a little girl. Because this woman had been taught by her parents and her church that people who did not have the same religion as them would go to hell, the little girl imagined her friend burning in hell and being tortured. She remembers that she cried herself to sleep for months worrying about her friend. What a horrible thing to put a child through! What Richard Dawkins and many others are trying to persuade people is that it is not a good thing to believe something when there is no evidence at all to suggest that it is true. Someone mentioned the movement to promote 'Intelligent Design" in America. This whole idea is absolute nonsense. People who support it are basically saying "Although the scientific theories can explain many things, they can't explain everything, so they must be wrong." Of course, these people's theory that the world was created in 7 days by a God is really no better than a fairy story. They are saying that there are gaps in scientific evidence (which is true, but that is hardly suprising as science is still developing), but of course there is no evidence for their own ideas at all. I was reading a story in the newspaper the other day about thousands of women dying in countries where abortion has been made illegal, even if the woman has been raped or is likely to die giving birth. The people of the Catholic church believe that it is a sin have an abortion. This would not be a problem if they were happy to let other people have different beliefs, but they are not. In fact, all through history, the churches have tried to control laws and make people live in the way that they believe is right. If religious people were happy to let other people believe what they want to (as in Japan), there would not be a problem, but unfortunately, this is not the reality in many countries. One of the biggest problems now is 'suicide bombers' - young men and women who believe that if they kill themselves and a lot of other people, they will go to heaven. Why do they believe that? Because they have been brain-washed since childhood to believe what they are told without question. There is a very interesting quote in Dawkins' book that I remember. "Those who can be persuaded to believe absurdities can be persuaded to commit atrocities." Can anyone translate that? (Sorry - it is way beyond my Japanese level!
Anyway, if you have the time, please have a look at the Richard Dawkins website (www.richarddawkins.net). There are some really interesting articles on there. Whatever you believe, the subject of religion is really a hot topic in the West at the moment, so I wanted to let you know what people are talking about. Next week, I promise I will try to think of an easier topic! If there is anything you would like to talk about, please let me know.
Have a great weekend.
David
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Hi David and everyone,
I had a look at Prof. Dawkins' website; read articles, saw many videos of TV show( You Tube). Among them, the article of interview"The flying spaghetti monster/Saloon Books" was impressive and was helpful for catching the rough content of his book" The God Delusion".
As for abortion right, it is a controversial point of issue at the Presidential Campaign in the US, isn't it?
As you said, Buddhism is closer to a philosophy , and so dose Zen, I think. According to the book of Zen which I've read, we have both evil spirits and good ones; morality, humanity and justice unconsciously. The process of finding inner-self(good one) is Zen itself as individualism. There is no evidence about this process, but it is Zen itself. I'm not sure how my thought will change after reading Prof. Dawkins' book. I can't deny religion as a dangerous kind of brain washing completely at the moment here in Japan.( Partly I understand what he said.)
＊私なりに訳してみました。
"Those who can be persuaded to believe absurdities can be persuaded to commit atrocities."
「不条理な事を信じるよう説得されるものは、残虐な行為を犯しうる。」
思った事がきちんとまとめる事も訳も出来ませんでした．．．．。
See you soon,
Anne
- Anne
- 2007年11月 2日 23:23
Hi David,
I also think it is wrong to teach children that they should believe something just because their parents do. I think people should be free to believe whatever they want, but I can say that if only they have a choice and are happy to let other people believe what they want to. Children are so pure, and they have no choice, so I think religions can be dangerous brain-washing.
I was shocked to hear of 'suicide bombers'. Are there people who believe that if they kill themselves and a lot of other people, they will go to heaven?? That will never happen! If they do that, they will go to hell!
As you say, I think Buddhism is closer to a philosophy than a religion. I have no religion at all, but I kind of like the idea of Buddhism. （‘教え導く’感じが好きです。） Actually, my grandmother was a Buddhist, and she was very religious. I used to read お経 with her when I was little and stayed at her house. I didn't understand what I read at all, it was kind of a song or something like that for me. ただ大人の真似をするのが楽しかったのを覚えています。
もっと書きたいけど、もう眠くて限界なので・・。
Have a great weekend and see you soon.
Tomo
PS Anne, 素晴らしい訳ですね！
- Tomo
- 2007年11月 3日 00:51
本題とは関係ないし、言い出したらきりがないので、あまり深入りはしたくありませんが、Davidのコメントの中で自爆テロリストたちは子どもの頃からそのように洗脳されているとありますが、それはちょっと違うと思います。
一番の原因は、若者たちの現世に対する絶望感だと思うのです。現世に何一つ望みがなく、絶望している若者に、「死後はパラダイスが待っている」と言えば、いっそ死んでしまおうと思ったとしても、それほど不思議なことではありません。もうひとつ、自爆テロに成功すれば、その本人の死後に家族の生活を保証するという組織もあるそうです。極貧の中で、将来の希望もなく、もし自分が死ねば家族が楽になるとなれば、死を選ぶ者もいるでしょう。（こういう状況なら自爆テロを起こしても良いと言っているわけでは決してありません。）
もちろん原理主義的な宗教が無関係とは言いませんが、若者たちがおかれた状況を考えずに、すべて宗教による洗脳のせいと考えるのはいかがなものかと思います。
- むらさき
- 2007年11月 5日 00:49
Ａｎｎｅ
最近は書かれる英文のレベルがアップしており、驚くばかりです。ｎｏとｎｏｔのは他の人が回答された通りですが、一言追加。
自分の目で確かめたいのであれば、ＡＬＣのＨＰからアクセスしてください。
ＨＰの中から“英文法”の項目をクリック。英文法の項目一覧が現れたら、“英文法ＦＡＱ”をクリックすると、１～１５までの項目が表示されます。『１５．否定：部分否定、ｎｏとｎｏｔ、ａｎｙなど』で確認できます。
ａｎｎｅの質問に直接は回答していませんが、参考になり一読の価値ありです。
- マック
- 2007年11月 5日 10:34
ぶらっと立ち寄っただけなのですが、むらさきさんのコメントに誘発され、一言残したくなりました。
大学で、仏教とキリスト教を学問としてならいましたが、旧約聖書は、寓話的に表現しているだけで、そこにある言葉そのものを捉えるものではありませんでした。うまく言えませんが、理性を利己的に活かしてしまう人間の本能に対し、自省の念を思い起こさせるのに必要な教えがそこにありました。
宗教を利用して繰り返された戦争の歴史があり、また、オカルト的な新興宗教が流行した時代があり、どうしても宗教というと、うさんくさいものと捉えがちです。それでも、物質至上主義の時代に、息苦しさを感じる人も増え、宗教もまた見直されてきています。むらさきさんのように、冷静に宗教の本質を見れることが必要なのではないかと思いました。
- こむらさき
- 2007年11月 5日 15:40
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for writing your comments. I think that Murasaki makes some good points, but the fact remains that there are many people around the world who have no hope, but only ones who are religious become suicide terrorists. If you have a look at richarddawkins.net, you can watch a lecture by a man who is an expert on the psychology of suicide terrorists. The video is very easy to find because it is on the main page. Just scroll down until you see the clip that is labelled 'suicide terrorism."
Speak to you later,
David
- David
- 2007年11月 5日 17:41
Hi, こむらさき：
Nice to meet you! ぶらっと立ち寄っただけなんておっしゃらないで、是非「おおむらさき」と改名して、常連になってくださいませんか？
Everyone:
私が言いたかったのは、自爆テロリストたちは、「幼い頃から洗脳された（Davidがコメントしたように）」特殊で異常な人たちではなく、私と何ら変わりない普通の若者だったのではないかということです。生粋のイスラム原理主義者ではなく、改宗した者も多いことからもそう言えると思います。前にも言いましたが、もちろん原理主義的な宗教との関係がないというつもりはありません。ただ、すべて宗教のせいにして片付けてしまうと、背景にある本当の問題が見えなくなる恐れがあると思うのです。
どんどん横道にそれてしまいますのでもう止めますが、いずれにしても、本来のこのトピックの問いに対する私の答えは、宗教は人を洗脳する危険なもので、有害無益であるという人たちの意見には賛成できないというものです。
- むらさき
- 2007年11月 5日 23:51
Hi マック,
Anne宛てのコメントで書かれていましたが、「notとnoの違い」について質問したのは私なので、お礼を書かせていただきます(^^;)
『否定：部分否定、ｎｏとｎｏｔ、ａｎｙなど』の項目を早速読んでみました。
ありがとうございました。
Hi David and Everyone,
I had a look at Richard Dawkins's website, but it was too difficult for me to understand it, so I gave up doing it.
(I couldn't translate it.)
When I was a college student, my friend entered a religious association.
I didn't know what kind of religious association it is.
She induced me and her friends to join the association everyday.
We said no but she called us everyday and she said "You must join our association. I got helped from this association, so I must increase family of it."
We kept saying no, but she didn't stop inducing us.
I felt she have been brainwashed. In fact, she had changed.
She used to play with her friends and study hard, but she has not gradually come to college.
One day, she called me as usual, so I said to her "If you really want to join the association, do it. But think about it. Now, you lost your friends. Do you know why? It's because of the association! Do you still want to do it?", but she had no ear.
Then, she dropped out of college.
I and her friend couldn't bring her back to reality.
I thought how easy a person is brainwashed, and it is very scary.
私もむらさきの意見に賛成です。
宗教が悪いのではなく、洗脳したりテロを行ったり、それを悪用する人間が一番悪いのだと思います。
私の友人が入っていた団体がどういうものだったのかは結局わからずじまいでしたが（その後、彼女の消息はわからなくなってしまったので）、彼女の未来の可能性を奪ったのは宗教ではなく、そこにいた人間だと思います。
Amica
- Amica
- 2007年11月 6日 00:11
Hi David & everyone
Long time no see! I've checked this blog once in a while, but I haven't posted my comment.BUT when I saw this topic today, I could NOT resist to say something about it. Because this is a quite interesting subject for me. When I live in the States, I noticed that most people who live in U.S. belong to some religions. I don't know the exact numbers, but I guess 80% ~90% people have own religions. In comparion to Japan, this is totally the opposite situation. Mind you, I don't believe any religion at all, but I don't have anything against them. When I live in Japan, in terms of religion, I was a majority, but now I became a minorty here. After I noticed that, I started thinking that why people need to believe some religions. Some American said when they raise their child, they need the Bible. Because the Bible says about love. To me, it's understandable, but I never thought that way that I need something like a lesson when I raise a child. Some people really need some lesson of love or life or happiness etc in their lives. Believing in God lets them teach something important for them. Basically,I think believing religion is not a bad thing. Like むらさき said, the worst thing about that is that some people(or should I say some governments?) try to manipulate others using religions. It's really sad. Anyway, this topic is really delicate.
See ya!
Pink NY
- Pink NY
- 2007年11月 6日 08:45
Oops;-(
When I live in the States → When I move to U.S.
In comparion to Japan, → In comparison to Japan
- Pink NY
- 2007年11月 6日 11:45
Hi Everyone,
(And welcome back Pink NY.) I didn't have time to write a new entry today, but I will do one tomorrow. Thanks for all your comments on this interesting topic. It is nice to be debating things again.
Have a great evening, and see you tomorrow.
- David
- 2007年11月 6日 20:30
Hi everyone,
It was very difficult topic for me this time, because I don't believe any religions, so it is good chance for me to think about the religion. What is the religion? No, now this topic changed into the problem if the religion is necessary for people or not.
There might be a lot of people who are killed by religion, but there might be a lot of people saved by religion, too. Therefore I cannot completely deny the religion. I'm not sure that God doesn't exist, and I'm not sure that people should not believe something when there is no evidence at all.
The people who insists that God doesn't exist has proven in a scientific manner.
The people who insists that God exists has proven in the religion.
Both are well-grounded and fundamentally different, so I think this is not to be able to understand each other permanently.
However, I have just one question. Is it really really true that the atheist denies God's existence completely? I'm a Japanese and don't believe any religions, but I cannot say 'I'm an atheist'. Perhaps, I think a lot of Japanese say so. I believe some kind of God though I'm not interested in the religion. This might be 'Natural belief (自然信仰?)', as Anne said.
When I enter the mosque, church or shrine, I feel some kind of God or something like the sacred one. I cannot foul or break the picture or the image of every God. Of course, I don't believe any religion. I think this is very natural feeling. I want to ask the atheist how they feel this when they are in the same situation.
Sorry, I know my comment is too late.
I'm looking forward to next topic!
See you
- ayako
- 2007年11月 6日 23:35
Hi, everyone, and long time no see Pink NY and ayako!
Hmm…! I understand the feeling ayako mentioned. Yes, this topic is very delicate. I may not really know much about an evil side of religion, living here in Japan.
Sorry I wrote more than half of the comments in Japanese. I wish I could write all of them in English. But debating things is interesting, isn’t it?
- むらさき
- 2007年11月 7日 00:04
Hi everyone,
Long time no see Pink NY and Ayako, and welcome こむらさき.
Let me tell you a little more about religion. I've been reading articles related to " The God Delusion." Among them, some sentences caught my eyes. Those are as follows:
"Science, then, is free of the main vice of religion, which is faith. But , as I pointed out, science does have some of religion's virtues. Religion may aspire to provide its followers with various benefits--among them, explanation, consolation, and uplift. Science, too, has something to offer in these areas.
(from "Is Science A Religion?)
"Thank goodness, not thank God.(from some interview on You Tube)
As Ayako said, I understand the vice of religion, but it is true that a lot of people are relieved by religion. I might not understand the situation and what the religion is, but I can't dismiss it as a dangerous kind of brain washing even though there is no evidence in the thoughts of religion. Anyway debating things is a good opportunity to see things from many(both) aspects, isn't it?
Looking forward to new topics!
Hi マックさん、
新しい文法確認のページ教えてくださってありがとうございました。不確かな事を一つ一つ確実にしていくには気の長～い努力が必要になりますね。step by step で行きます！
See you soon,
Anne
- 匿名
- 2007年11月 7日 09:43
Hi,むらさき,Anne and all
とても遅くにコメントしたのに、読んでくれてありがとう。宗教は難しい…、それを英語で語るのはもっと難しい！！！この話題を掘り下げると、1ヶ月くらいかかりそう！？
Pink NYの言うように、日本人で信仰がある人って少数派だから（私は○○教ですと言うのはタブーのような…）何となく語り合い難いですね。実際、日本人の友達と宗教や信仰について話した事はありません。でも世界に視野を広げれば、大多数の人は何らかの宗教に関わり、生活の一部になってる。日本てやっぱり特殊な国なんだろうなぁ、と改めて感じました。
- ayako
- 2007年11月 7日 15:33
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQLW7ouTVz0