More Evidence that the Japanese are Just F-ing WEIRD

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

My point isn't about being religious versus non-religious. It's that Japan's society and societal thinking is completely different than America's, which that can be traced directly to the absence of Judeo-Christian "morality".

For example, while I might choose to be agnostic or atheist, it would be virtually impossible for me to forget and disregard the Christian teachings I learned at church and in CCD during the first 12 years of my life. They're ingrained, regardless of whether or not I believe that the God of Abraham and Isaac or Jesus exists.

That is very, very different than a entire society of millions of people that have never been raised, nurtured or taught those same values and teachings.

It's not just that. When you look at the history of religion in general, western religions like Christianity have traditionally been very outwardly focused. The moral underpinnings of modern Japanese society are based on spiritual tenants that focus inward.

Modern technology has created many issues when it comes to interpersonal relations for all of us. But when you combine that with traditional Japanese values, it's almost like they're building a society of robots...

[hometeam]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

It's not just that. When you look at the history of religion in general, western religions like Christianity have traditionally been very outwardly focused. The moral underpinnings of modern Japanese society are based on spiritual tenants that focus inward.

Modern technology has created many issues when it comes to interpersonal relations for all of us. But when you combine that with traditional Japanese values, it's almost like they're building a society of robots...

Not to mention, they are LITERALLY building a society of robots. As referenced by OP.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

My point isn't about being religious versus non-religious. It's that Japan's society and societal thinking is completely different than America's, which that can be traced directly to the absence of Judeo-Christian "morality".

For example, while I might choose to be agnostic or atheist, it would be virtually impossible for me to forget and disregard the Christian teachings I learned at church and in CCD during the first 12 years of my life. They're ingrained, regardless of whether or not I believe that the God of Abraham and Isaac or Jesus exists.

That is very, very different than a entire society of millions of people that have never been raised, nurtured or taught those same values and teachings.

I guess I just disagree with the way you're intertwining the two and still saying it's not about religion. Morality is way too complicated to be reduced only to values coming from Judeo-Christian teachings. And in your instance, you're still assuming that the example person in question went to church the first 12 years of their life. Most of those values are inherent to all humans no matter where they're born.

I simply don't think religion has any place in the discussion at all, either directly or latently applied like you're doing. And I also don't think the US is any example at all to point to in regards to great morals. We're suffering from many of the same moral ills that they are. And it will get worse as population density and poverty both increase here like it has there. We're headed down that path a lot more than people realize.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Fish

I guess I just disagree with the way you're intertwining the two and still saying it's not about religion. Morality is way too complicated to be reduced only to values coming from Judeo-Christian teachings. And in your instance, you're still assuming that the example person in question went to church the first 12 years of their life. Most of those values are inherent to all humans no matter where they're born.

I simply don't think religion has any place in the discussion at all, either directly or latently applied like you're doing. And I also don't think the US is any example at all to point to in regards to great morals. We're suffering from many of the same moral ills that they are. And it will get worse as population density and poverty both increase here like it has there. We're headed down that path a lot more than people realize.

Don't think of it as religion but rather a philosophy and how such philosophy came to shape our means of governance, business and social ethics and personal motivations.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Fish

I guess I just disagree with the way you're intertwining the two and still saying it's not about religion. Morality is way too complicated to be reduced only to values coming from Judeo-Christian teachings. And in your instance, you're still assuming that the example person in question went to church the first 12 years of their life. Most of those values are inherent to all humans no matter where they're born.

I simply don't think religion has any place in the discussion at all, either directly or latently applied like you're doing. And I also don't think the US is any example at all to point to in regards to great morals. We're suffering from many of the same moral ills that they are. And it will get worse as population density and poverty both increase here like it has there. We're headed down that path a lot more than people realize.

You're welcome to disagree.

FWIW, do you or your colleagues visit Japan frequently? Do you do direct business with them? Are you familiar with Buddhism and how it's practiced in Japan? Are you familiar with their current society, as a whole?

[NinerDoug]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This is what a society living in the nearly complete absence of Judeo-Christian values looks like.

Not quite getting this. Don't they sell plenty of sex-related stuff in the good ol' U.S. of A?

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

This is what a society living in the nearly complete absence of Judeo-Christian values looks like.

I'm not convinced your statement here is true. When I think about people making a porn movie, during daytime and in full view of anyone passing by (on Westboro Baptist Church lawn) I hesitate to assign that kind of conduct to anything less than the individuals involved. Certainly the porn makers must have had exposure to Judeo-Christian values. They apparently just rejected them.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Earthling

I'm not convinced your statement here is true. When I think about people making a porn movie, during daytime and in full view of anyone passing by (on Westboro Baptist Church lawn) I hesitate to assign that kind of conduct to anything less than the individuals involved. Certainly the porn makers must have had exposure to Judeo-Christian values. They apparently just rejected them.

You're singling out a few people versus a society of 127 million people.

FWIW, every single porn company you've ever heard of is owned and operated by Jewish men.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

You're singling out a few people versus a society of 127 million people.

FWIW, every single porn company you've ever heard of is run by Jewish men.

Well how many people in Japan are using this robotic device? I'm sure that is not known but would be pertinent to your argument.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Earthling

Well how many people in Japan are using this robotic device? I'm sure that is not known but would be pertinent to your argument.

It's not just the "robotic" device. It's Bukakke, it's sex, it's mind-altering, mood-enhancing drug use. It's so many things...

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Earthling

Well how many people in Japan are using this robotic device? I'm sure that is not known but would be pertinent to your argument.

This porn robot is symptomatic, it's not the disease.

Take a look at the slate article. Peruse google and take a look at the social structure of young Japanese citizens.

If that were what we were facing in the states, I know I'd be damn alarmed.

I read a book called "Bowling Alone" years back that talked about this sort of thing in the states and most of it was fairly prophetic.

It's also peanuts compared to what we're seeing in Japan. This really is the kind of thing that could lead to the gradual disintegration of an entire nation of people (nation in lower case, not from a geo-political standpoint).

[Earthling]

The reality is I have never been to Japan so I have no experience with people living there. Perhaps it is as you say..? My wife of 38 odd years or so is of Japanese ancestry and I can tell you most all of her relatives are pretty decent, hard working, honest folks.

[BlackHelicopters]

Instant billionaires.

[Garcia Bronco]

I like where their head is at...but this sounds kinda lame. I want all the nasty sex of a live female, but maybe without all the other stuff that comes with it....excessive talking....badgering....constant spending of money.....complaining....that sort of thing

[threebag]

Billay will be the first planeteer to have one