Disaster in Japan

March 28, 2011 by Jeffrey Richey

Continued from Page 1

In many ways, Japan is one of the world's most secular societies. By Western standards of religiosity (personal belief, individual membership, embrace of doctrines and scriptures), most Japanese do not appear to be very "religious." But when monstrosity strikes, the character of a culture is revealed. In the case of Japan, the imagery of disaster also includes the visage of a Buddha, reflected in the faces of millions of ordinary Japanese standing in line for aid, searching ruins for loved ones, and lending a helping hand to others: calm, compassionate, and concentrated. Such an image still inspires Japanese and others who cope with the inevitable loss and suffering that living and dying as impermanent, interdependent beings entails.

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3/28/2011 4:00:00 AM

History

Japan

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Tsunami

Confucianism

Shinto

Buddhism

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About Jeffrey Richey

Jeffrey L. Richey is director of the Asian studies program and associate professor of religion at Berea College in Kentucky.

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