Religion for occasions

Before the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, this post on our blog highlighted that in these amazing times our focus should be on the return of Jesus and the rebirth of creation. It’s still a freezing winter in Japan with no electricity in many areas, many people without any shelter at all and with further destruction likely soon. It’s difficult to image how those people who have survived in the tsunami affected area are coping with this calamity.

This opinion piece by Dan Gilgoff of CNN.com brings together the thoughts of a number of international theologians to help give us an insight into Japanese beliefs, and provides a possible insight into the role of religion in their culture.

Unfortunately, according to Gilgoff’s post, it seems many Japanese are lost to God and are simply using a combination of ceremonies and ideas from different beliefs as more of a coping mechanism. Let’s pray that, especially at this time, Christians in Japan will reach out and that God will move strongly; pointing out his control of creation, his ultimate plan for us and the hope only Jesus offers.