Religion is bad, M'kay?

[myahele]

Well the problem there is that Western religions tend to be absolutist; they are right and anyone who disagrees with them is wrong. This gives followers of the faith a common enemy, and as we all know nothing brings people together quite like having someone or something they can all hate.

I could be wrong, but didn't parts of Japan try to slaughter the early Jesuit missionaries and Japanese Christians?

[Cilia]

I could be wrong, but didn't parts of Japan try to slaughter the early Jesuit missionaries and Japanese Christians?

My knowledge of Eastern history is not too great; however, I believe you are correct, though not for the reasons most people believe.

Medieval Japan was very, very big on loyalty to the Emperor and one's Lord. Since Christianity places God above all other loyalties, the Emperor (etc.) thought it would cause conflict with loyalty to him, so Christians were persecuted. Christianity still is a minority religion in Japan to this day, though considering modern societies have largely evolved past religious persecution and the Emperor is little more than a figurehead these days, that's probably just because Christianity is not native to Japan.

[IoannesBellator]

My knowledge of Eastern history is not too great; however, I believe you are correct, though not for the reasons most people believe..

There were plenty of successes in Christian missions to Japan, mostly because peasants who fear being killed by their Samurai overlords have something to look forward to than rot indefinitely (Yomi in Shinto) or be reincarnated into a hit-or-miss future life (Buddhism). When St. Francis Xavier landed in Japan, the Japanese were very sharp: they'd ask questions like "If this is the true religion, why arrive just now?" And that's not a bad thing because it made missionaries shape up their theology and and show the best they can offer. And then the native Buddhist religious leaders got insecure and everyone else didn't like any departure from the status quo "Peasants having the same fundamental dignity as I? I think not!" And quickly got rid of the Christian missionaries.