Religious Influence on Anime

[SyriMoon]

Linedhel

sherman the smurf

but i guess alot of people know those stories so it makes it more "realistic" i guess

There are many posts in this thread I could quote, but I'll go with this one.

This is, in almost every case, completely wrong.

Distinctions should be made between stories that draw from a religion and stories that use spirituality influenced by a religion. There are very, very few of the former in regards to Christian influence, perhaps because the Japanese seem to have very little knowledge of anything to do with Christianity. Good examples of this include Tsukihime, Chrono Crusade, Hellsing, and pretty much any series where the Roman Catholic Church is portrayed as a paramilitary organization with its own demon hunters. This has nothing to do with Catholicism. It's just creating a completely fictitious organization with its nomenclature and uniforms roughly based on that of a real organization. These series are not religious in the slightest.

And don't get me started on what happens when a Japanese writer gets his hands on scripture.

I trhink what many, including myself might have meant, was that it is something familiar we can relate to. Even if portrayed in a rather inaccurate sense, it's still something known.

[Sweet Trixie]

I think I remember reading somewhere, that in Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars is Shinto (if it isn't obvious by the fact that she's a Shinto priestess XD), Sailor Venus is Buddhist, and Sailor Moon is Christian? Correct me if I'm wrong... I don't remember where I read that.

[rockmanx]

The Japanse are bit more open to different religions and pull from the different ones. Many Digimon character come from the different religions.

[Sebastian At Your Service]

I see no Evangelion on your list.

[sojikai]

hell, even Tales of Symphonia had religious stuff in it

[lightapple]

SyriMoon

Linedhel

sherman the smurf

but i guess alot of people know those stories so it makes it more "realistic" i guess

There are many posts in this thread I could quote, but I'll go with this one.

This is, in almost every case, completely wrong.

Distinctions should be made between stories that draw from a religion and stories that use spirituality influenced by a religion. There are very, very few of the former in regards to Christian influence, perhaps because the Japanese seem to have very little knowledge of anything to do with Christianity. Good examples of this include Tsukihime, Chrono Crusade, Hellsing, and pretty much any series where the Roman Catholic Church is portrayed as a paramilitary organization with its own demon hunters. This has nothing to do with Catholicism. It's just creating a completely fictitious organization with its nomenclature and uniforms roughly based on that of a real organization. These series are not religious in the slightest.

And don't get me started on what happens when a Japanese writer gets his hands on scripture.

I trhink what many, including myself might have meant, was that it is something familiar we can relate to. Even if portrayed in a rather inaccurate sense, it's still something known.

Exactly, it may not be accurate, but they're basing it off of something real and that is well known. I think by drawing from it, they're trying to give the work some authenticity even if the events could never actually happen.

And apparently, she didn't notice the "Influence" I stuck in the topic. I was never suggesting they were religious at all, but that had bits of religion placed in them.

[ZachIsAPanda]

So, let's talk about the best religious anime...Maria Holic

But really, there's a ridiculous amount of anime and manga rooted in religious stories and characters, mostly Buddhism and Christianity. It makes the stories easier to recognize and it can help them play out better. Referencing religious characters also helps develop characters better, like how you said: Cain in Godchild is named after Cain, because he is supposedly cursed like him.

[CodeNightmare]

"~ON A ONCE SILENT NIGHT...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DID SOMEONE SAY "RELIGION"?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
...MAD MEN DANCE AND SING THE NIGHT AWAY~"

[Hawt Haute]

I don't mind.
I don't believe in any supreme being or anything,
but I find other people's beliefs interesting.
In anime, it kind of sets the mood and all.
I LOVED Neon Genesis Evangelion,
despite all the religious references,
it made me like it even more.
Same with Hellsing.
I guess it gives it a more realistic feel.

[Bohemian Oz]

I think it's fair to say that since Christianity is practiced by only about 10-20% of the Japanese population, it tends to be seen as a bit of a novelty. Hence its popularity in anime and manga as a basis of mythology. Just like how people like us have an affinity for Buddhism or Shintoism. The same could even be said for Grecco-Roman mythology in a sense, even though it's Western.

[Viral Marionette]

Interesting point.

Can't say I really go along with the whole "Akito dubbing himself God" thing. A bit controling,yeah,but not that bad...
I did notice just recently when Ritsu is standing on the roof that he mentioned Jesus : rare Christian moment?? eek Seriously,he's the only anime character I've ever heard do that o.O

Ah,Godchild. Obviously a bit of religion thrown in there,with Cain being kind of like a present-day Biblical Cain,and the tarot cards... 3nodding

Light thinks himself to be God. Good Lord,someone needs to whack that boy upside the head! God may be a judge,but he most certainly doesn't kill people on the spot for being bad stare Learn the rules of God-ness,Yagami scream

Then take a look at the entirity of Xenosaga. The person-controled robots (A.G.Ws...? Sorry,brain failure sweatdrop ) are all named after the twelve tribes of Benjamin,with one exception. Chaos was alive while Christ was,and still is (haven't figured out what the deal with him is yet...). KOS-MOS and the other android girl are like... Mary Magdelene (Spell fail?) I think.
Darn my failing memory of the game/anime xp

[Bohemian Oz]

Other Examples of Religion/Mythology in Anime:

Saiyuki- Based off of Hindu-Bhuddist lore
Kamichama-Karin- Gods are variety of either Shitno, Buddhist, Christian, or Greek deities.
Ragnarok- Obviously based off of Norse Mythology
Berserk- Christian/Necronomicon/Celtic/Norse lore among other things.


Oh, also, to throw a little wrench in the discussion:

Jediism is considered a growing religious movement. It's huge in Australia. mrgreen