"Global Salvationism"

It is, I suspect, no accident that it is in Europe that climate change absolutism has found the most fertile soil. For it is Europe that has become the most secular society in the world, where the traditional religions have the weakest popular hold. Yet people still feel the need for the comfort and higher values that religion can provide; and it is the quasi-religion of Green alarmism and what has been termed global salvationism - of which the climate change issue is the most striking example, but by no means the only one - which has filled the vacuum, with reasoned questioning of its mantras regarded as a form of blasphemy.

Posted as the Samizdata Quote of the Day.

Posted by on 11/03 at 11:22 AM

  1. Ah, I don’t think so. Japan is the world’s most secular moder society. Hands down.

    I know what I’m talking about. I lived five years in Japan and two in Europe. The Europeans are religious wackos compared to the Japanese.

    In Japan, except for the very, very old (and this was in the late 80s), there simply is not such thing as religion in any practical sense whatsoever. At all.

    Posted by Richard Nikoley  on  11/03  at  06:58 PM

  2. Rich, Japan may very well be more secular than Europe.  It’s been some time since I’ve visited the country (20 years, or so), so I can’t really opin on that.  Any idea if the Japanese are in the throes of global salvationism?

    Posted by John Venlet  on  11/04  at  07:12 AM

  3. Do you mean them sending out missionaries, or missionaries coming to them?

    Since all religious movements I witnessed there were micro (I knew a Mormon who would go to meetings in a rented office conference room in downtown Tokyo on weekends), and themselves the subject of missions from elsewhere, I’d say it’s just not even a blip anywhere. At least it wasn’t then, and I would be surprised if it had gone the other way. From what foundation? Keep in mind that the Japanese were Shinto during WWII, i.e., they believed that the Emperor was the literal incarnation of God. Well, WWII defeated their God. So, not only did we destroy an imperial power, but we destroyed a whole religious culture just as an unavoidable consequence—simply because of the way it was constructed.

    It’s really hard to explain, because in the West we’re so used to people invoking some sort of belief system so often, even when it’s just subconscious reflex. In five years in Japan, I don’t believe I ever heard a single meaningful reference to higher powers.

    When I asked specifically about religion, the answer was always the same: I’d get kind of a snicker and would be told: “only some old people.”

    I believe there are also some remnants of Buddhist culture, but as you may know, Buddhism does not necessarily purport the supernatural. In simplest terms, Buddhism is the worship of free will and wisdom. I’d probably argue with their conclusions on wisdom, as much of it is collectivist (the “we’re all connected mantra"), but I’ve never, ever known a Buddhist to advocate the initiation of force, ever. I’ve spent a lot of time in Buddhist cultures (months and months in Thailand, for example) and on an individual level, I consider them to be the most peaceful and unassuming people anywhere. In short, they know how to mind their own business.

    I just googled a couple of things.

    http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e629.html

    http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/japan/religion.htm

    Toward the bottom of the 2nd link is this:

    “RELIGION IN JAPAN TODAY

    Mainstream Shinto and Buddhism

    Many people in Japan today consider themselves Shintoist and Buddhist, in spite of alienation from specific Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines associated with their family.  According to a 1996 report, about 194,000,000 Japanese are members of both religions, about 54% more than the total population of Japan.  Apparent by these numbers, Shinto and Buddhism are not in conflict with each other but exist peacefully together.  What is not seen by these numbers, is the number of regular worshipers and attendees.  A majority of the people go to shrines and temples only for annual events and rituals.  Some examples of annual attendances would be the first shrine or temple visit in the new year (hatsumode), and a visit to the family grave during the Bon Festival.  Some rituals that are observed are those that involve the different stages of a person’s life, like a newborn’s first shrine visit (miyamairi), the Shichi-go-san Festival shrine visit for 3 & 5 year old boys and for 3 & 7year old girls, a Shinto wedding ceremony and a Buddhist funeral.”

    I’d say the fact that anyone can quite easily consider or proclaim themselves a member of two separate religions speaks volumes about its place in their lives. Imagine if most American went around saying “I’m a Catholic and a Methodist.” Kind of takes the wind out of that whole “my religion is the true religion” thing, doesn’t it?

    Posted by Richard Nikoley  on  11/04  at  09:45 AM

  4. Kind of takes the wind out of that whole “my religion is the true religion” thing, doesn’t it?

    Rich, the above is a good thing, and as you’re aware, I do have a religious bend to my mind, though not in the negative sense which you stridently censure in your posts on the subject.

    Thanks for posting those links, also.

    Posted by John Venlet  on  11/04  at  11:33 AM

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