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You also have to take cultural and linguistic differences into account. In my experience, Japanese people tend use terms like "atheist" and "non-religious" less
by ThinkingGuy 7y ago
You also have to take cultural and linguistic differences into account. In my experience, Japanese people tend use terms like "atheist" and "non-religious" less in the sense of a personal system of belief, and more in the sense of "not being a member of a formal, established religious institution."
I've had variations of the following conversation with several Japanese people:
Q: Are you religious?
A: No I don't have any religion.
Q: Oh, I see. By the way, what did you do on New Year's Day this year?
A: I went to the neighborhood shrine to pray, like I always do!
- dkarl 7y agoEven in among native English speakers the usage is not consistent. I know people who believe in a spirit world where their dead family members hear their prayers, and they do not describe themselves as religious, because they associate religion with a shared dogma and belief in one or more superhuman deities. I guess most people don't describe themselves "religious" unless there is some organized religion that they are able to identify as the source of their beliefs.
- satellitec4t 7y agoThen there are people who say, "I'm not religious -- I have a relationship with God"