Japanese people believe in death, right?

[Slateman]

Ok, first, I do not mean to be racist. There is this guy who is constantly getting on my nerves. He's Taiwanese btw. Sent this mass email via my school's network. Ugh.

He claims that aging is a disease that can be cured. But because we (the US) is so "religous" we just accept death.

Gets better. He says that Japan is atheist, and thus doesn't accept death. Therefore, they believe in researching a cure for aging.

Normally I could care less what someone says when they ramble nonesense, but he also took some personal shots at me as well, so I'm gonna make this my business.

Is Japan atheist? I mean, I know historically they have Shinto and Buddhism. Are they still widely followed? Don't these religions/philosophies have some sort of stance on death?

[dfitzo53]

I'll let someone with more knowledge than myself answer your religion question more fully, but yes, there are Buddhists and Shintos in Japan. I would imagine there are also a fair number of Christians.

Regardless, if your acquaintance thinks that Americans aren't doing research into aging then he needs to get his facts straight.

[skinfan2k]

how did people die before america was actually "America" ?

[Vi]

I'm no expert, but here's the Wiki article on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religions_of_Japan

[PokerPacker]

ah, good old wikipedia

[dreamingwolf]

Religions:

observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ja.html

[Slateman]

Problem is that Wikipedia doesn't count as a true source cus its written by submission and not verified.

[Mr. S]

I dont know much about Shinto, or that much about Buddhism, but I think they do believe in death. First of all, that just sounds odd, that they dont "believe in death". Buddhism's goal is to attain Nirvana before death, or at least live a peaceful life. Shinto is a focus on nature, but also ancestors right? Wouldnt that mean they "believe in death"?

[Predicto]

Problem is that Wikipedia doesn't count as a true source cus its written by submission and not verified.

Yes, but it is also freely edited by submission. The final result is surprisingly accurate.

[zoony]

Many Japanese are both Buddhist and Shinto. They are less of a dogma, and more of a way to practice, if that makes any sense.

For instance, many Japanese have a Shinto wedding and a Buddhist funeral.

...

[Kurd Cudins]

I think the orignial idealist, the Taiwanese guy, was trying to make a point that Japanese culture is more scientific because they are less religious, and in turn, we are more religious than scientific. I don't necessarily disagree with him there, but its obvious he is just an angry person who has trouble properly representing his ideas.

[Destino]

My response would be - Let me know what company finds the cure for aging so I can buy some stock. Have a great day.

[zoony]

I read an article on aging... about how it was something that the body did not do 'naturally', so to speak.

Rather, it was encoded in our DNA... our body is 'forced' to age by our genetic structure.

I think they've isolated that strand though... the gist of the article was that it is not a matter of 'if', but 'when', with regards to an anti-aging drug.

Hell, maybe it was this book, it's been a while since I read it. Good book though.

.....

[rincewind]

Hell, maybe it was this book, it's been a while since I read it. Good book though.

.....

I wouldn't put too much stock into that book - as it says it is an 'autobiography' and not a 'biography' (which is WAY more accurate).

[Winslowalrob]

I am an athiest. I think there is a good chance I will die. Case closed. Taiwan is crazy, they should just go back to China and get straightened out .

[China]

There is a difference between believing in death and accepting it as inevitable.