Japan

[BeamMeUpScotty]

But do you want to force them to accept Christian traditions?

Yes, It's no right to force anyone.
The Missionaries of LEAF doesn't force anyone. They are there because of the Christian Church of Japan.

JELC is totally Japanese Christian Church.
I think it would be better if you visit to the home page of JELC.
http://www.jelc.or.jp/
You could ask them what is going on there. I'm sure they would tell you the reason why they invited some foreigners to co-operate with them.

The reason is not intelligence. I'm sure the most Japanese are more intelligent than many other else where.

Also Japanese religion called "Kofuku no Kagaku" does missionary work in America and in Europe. ?!?!

I wish everything good for you!
You all are in my prayers!


LC

I just did a quick Google search on the religion you mentioned and it basically, from a very brief glance, look like a Buddhist sect that is more than a bit "out there". Didn't see any talk of missionary work, but that doesn't mean they don't do it. If they did, I would tell them the same thing I told you.

Missionary work basically assumes a superiority which I strongly dislike and distrust. This doesn't mean I dislike or distrust the missionaries themselves, as the church I grew up in was strong in missionary work and I know many of the people I knew then and now were, and are, decent good people, much like most of the athiests and agnostics I know.

 

[LadyCoyote_Fin]

Missionary work basically assumes a superiority which I strongly dislike and distrust. This doesn't mean I dislike or distrust the missionaries themselves, as the church I grew up in was strong in missionary work and I know many of the people I knew then and now were, and are, decent good people, much like most of the athiests and agnostics I know.

I agree with you. If there is any sign of superiority, that is against my vision.

I know there are different ways to do mission work, so I don’t wonder your attitude and thoughts.
Any kind of force, brain washing is against the will of God.
By the way, you wrote: “as the church I grew up in was strong in missionary work and I know many of the people I knew then and now were”. I’m just curious, what was the church you raised up?


The centre of Christianity is based on love and humble, so it’s wrong to spread the Gospel with superiority attitude. My opinion is that you can’t give the testimony of the love of God, if you’re trying to be above other. We need to respect each other and give the freedom to choose.


I’ve chosen this way to be a Christian and based my life on it. I just don’t find any harm, if you want to share the Gospel and tell the love of God. But I know someone does see the things in different light. I respect the opinion, but I can’t agree with it.

God has done so much in my life, I just can’t be without telling that enormous love to other.
But after that testimony it’s very important you need to give space to make the decision by them self, but you need to be there available, if they are interested in and need to know more. Too aggressive testimony and using force to get people listen isn’t right. Faith doesn’t wake up by forcing; it’s the gift of God.

My vision to do mission work is, that I am there, among people known as a Christian. I give my testimony of the love of God by living my daily life.

If someone were interested in who I am, why I do believe God or why I’ve chosen Christianity, it would be my pleasure to give my testimony and tell the love of God. That’s the same like I’m doing right now. I’m here around my relatives and friends… I’m trying to live my daily life in that way that I would share the love of God and tell about that amazing Grace.

Moving to another country doesn’t change anything. I‘m also going to live true my faith and be there available if someone would like to get know the love of God. Someone accept Jesus as the saviour and someone not, but I do respect both of them as well.


It was really interesting have this conversation with you. I’ve realized you’re very intelligent man. And I respect you’ve chosen your own way.
I bet this would be endless discussion chain, so now it’s time for me to stay back and let the room for the others.

Take care!

LC

 

[angeloffaith]

I agree with you. If there is any sign of superiority, that is against my vision.

I know there are different ways to do mission work, so I don’t wonder your attitude and thoughts.
Any kind of force, brain washing is against the will of God.
By the way, you wrote: “as the church I grew up in was strong in missionary work and I know many of the people I knew then and now were”. I’m just curious, what was the church you raised up?


The centre of Christianity is based on love and humble, so it’s wrong to spread the Gospel with superiority attitude. My opinion is that you can’t give the testimony of the love of God, if you’re trying to be above other. We need to respect each other and give the freedom to choose.


I’ve chosen this way to be a Christian and based my life on it. I just don’t find any harm, if you want to share the Gospel and tell the love of God. But I know someone does see the things in different light. I respect the opinion, but I can’t agree with it.

God has done so much in my life, I just can’t be without telling that enormous love to other.
But after that testimony it’s very important you need to give space to make the decision by them self, but you need to be there available, if they are interested in and need to know more. Too aggressive testimony and using force to get people listen isn’t right. Faith doesn’t wake up by forcing; it’s the gift of God.

My vision to do mission work is, that I am there, among people known as a Christian. I give my testimony of the love of God by living my daily life.

If someone were interested in who I am, why I do believe God or why I’ve chosen Christianity, it would be my pleasure to give my testimony and tell the love of God. That’s the same like I’m doing right now. I’m here around my relatives and friends… I’m trying to live my daily life in that way that I would share the love of God and tell about that amazing Grace.

Moving to another country doesn’t change anything. I‘m also going to live true my faith and be there available if someone would like to get know the love of God. Someone accept Jesus as the saviour and someone not, but I do respect both of them as well.


It was really interesting have this conversation with you. I’ve realized you’re very intelligent man. And I respect you’ve chosen your own way.
I bet this would be endless discussion chain, so now it’s time for me to stay back and let the room for the others.

Take care!

LC

LadyCoyote_Fin
I agree with you to amen

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

By the way, you wrote: “as the church I grew up in was strong in missionary work and I know many of the people I knew then and now were”. I’m just curious, what was the church you raised up?

I was raised in the Moravian church, which originated in the now Czech republic, then they went to Germany and then to what was to become the US. They founded my hometown, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Christmas eve 1741. They broke from the Catholic church before Luther over language--they believed the Bible should be translated in the language of the people, not Latin.

Two key parts of my view of life I got from my Moravian upbringing: 1) pacificism--they did not believe in violence and practiced it--much to George Washington's chagrin; 2) Everybody is equal in "God's eye"--they set up a hospital during the American Revolutionary war and treated anybody, again to Washington's chagrin. Also, when one died they were buried in the next available space--no preferential treatment. Thus a mayor might be next to a Native American, who's next to an infant, who's next to .... Everybody had a flat headstone with his/her name, date of birth and death. Everybody was the same. I thus feel we are all equal and should treat each other as such.

The missionary part was one aspect I was uncomfortable with, though just reading the Bible was enough to "convert" me to atheism. But, that's another thread.

Although, I did benefit from a missionary. One of my best friends' father when I was a child had been a missionary in Alaska. He disassembled his dog sled and brought it back to Pennslyvania, where he put it back together. When it snowed we tied it to the back of his car and he would drive us around the neighborhood and do doughnuts in the church parking lot. Tons of fun.

It was really interesting have this conversation with you. I’ve realized you’re very intelligent man. And I respect you’ve chosen your own way.
I bet this would be endless discussion chain, so now it’s time for me to stay back and let the room for the others.

Take care!

LC

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree over missionary work.

Take care of yourself.

Michael

 

[Breetai]

I think I feel like travelling to Japan for the last weekend of July, beginning of August. Where should I go? I'm going to arrive in Fukuoka, but I've already toured around there a bit so I'd like to go somewhere else. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards Hiroshima because I want to see the war memorial, but Kyoto's tempting too. Is Osaka actually worth doing on a short trip when Kyoto is so close? I don't think that I'll go as far east as the Tokyo area.

Also, what's the easiest and cheapest way to intercity travel on a short trip (3-4 days)? The main Japan Rail Pass is kind of expensive for a short trip. The JR Seishun 18 Kippu pass looks like it's the best deal for what I want. 11,500 yen for 5 uses within a season and it can be shared. Does anyone have any other opinions to offer? Has anyone travelled around Japan on these boards?

 

[Overtime_man]

I think I feel like travelling to Japan for the last weekend of July, beginning of August. Where should I go? I'm going to arrive in Fukuoka, but I've already toured around there a bit so I'd like to go somewhere else. Any suggestions? I'm leaning towards Hiroshima because I want to see the war memorial, but Kyoto's tempting too. Is Osaka actually worth doing on a short trip when Kyoto is so close? I don't think that I'll go as far east as the Tokyo area.

Also, what's the easiest and cheapest way to intercity travel on a short trip (3-4 days)? The main Japan Rail Pass is kind of expensive for a short trip. The JR Seishun 18 Kippu pass looks like it's the best deal for what I want. 11,500 yen for 5 uses within a season and it can be shared. Does anyone have any other opinions to offer? Has anyone travelled around Japan on these boards?

Hey, Breetai. If I were you, I would choose Hiroshima over Kyoto, simply because Kyoto is so overrun with tourists during the summer months. Actually, it's overrun with tourists throughout the entire year, but it becomes especially unbearable from June to September, so you'd probably have a much better time there if you made your trip during the fall / winter season. As for Osaka, I think that you'd need a fair bit of time there to do it justice. It truly is a huge, sprawling city, and if you only had one or two days there, you'd spend more time searching for your hotel than actually touring around the streets.

I can't give you much advice on transportation because when I go on a trip here, I usually go by car or simply buy a return shinkansen ticket. I'd imagine that taking the bus would be the cheapest way to get from city to city, but it's also the slowest and most annoying.

 

[chaplin's aid]

ohio! watshiwa zaku desu.

 

[Breetai]

Hey, Breetai. If I were you, I would choose Hiroshima over Kyoto, simply because Kyoto is so overrun with tourists during the summer months. Actually, it's overrun with tourists throughout the entire year, but it becomes especially unbearable from June to September, so you'd probably have a much better time there if you made your trip during the fall / winter season. As for Osaka, I think that you'd need a fair bit of time there to do it justice. It truly is a huge, sprawling city, and if you only had one or two days there, you'd spend more time searching for your hotel than actually touring around the streets.

I can't give you much advice on transportation because when I go on a trip here, I usually go by car or simply buy a return shinkansen ticket. I'd imagine that taking the bus would be the cheapest way to get from city to city, but it's also the slowest and most annoying.

I'd go in the fall or winter, but this is when I have time off from work. I have to be a tourist!!! Since it's the 60th anniversery of the Hiroshima bombing and all, I'm guessing that the peace park isn't exactly going to be void of life... Besides, I actually want to be a crazy tourist!

We're pondering renting a car, but we really haven't looked into it much. I have an international license, but my one of my group has a Japanese license and can speak passable Japanese, so we're thinking of doing that. We really are just winging it.

Maybe I should just move to Japan next year. A working holiday visa and a few grand to tide me over should do it. At least I would own my own visa and private lessons would actually be legal there. My boss owns my work visa in Korea, so it really feels restricting. How's living in Tokyo? Is it really that much more expensive to live in than a smaller city?

 

[Overtime_man]

I'd go in the fall or winter, but this is when I have time off from work. I have to be a tourist!!! Since it's the 60th anniversery of the Hiroshima bombing and all, I'm guessing that the peace park isn't exactly going to be void of life... Besides, I actually want to be a crazy tourist!

Of course Hiroshima (or any other large city in Japan!) is going to be stuffed full of people at any given time, but the difference is that the historic part of Kyoto is so cramped and narrow that you can hardly move about at the best of times, let alone during the peak of tourist season. Add to that the 35 c summer heat, and it can become rather unpleasant!

How's living in Tokyo? Is it really that much more expensive to live in than a smaller city?

If you want to live like a normal human, Tokyo is indeed much more expensive than other parts of the country. It is possible to rent an apartment here for about USD $400 - $500 a month, but it would be closet-sized, with no bathroom or kitchen...just enough room to sleep. However, that's not most people's idea of a good time, so if you want a place that's actually liveable, you'll really need to shell out significantly more. Prices start to fall the closer you get to the outskirts of the city (i.e. chiba), but the downside is that you'd have a pretty long train ride into work every day if your workplace was in Tokyo.

 

[Breetai]

Of course Hiroshima (or any other large city in Japan!) is going to be stuffed full of people at any given time, but the difference is that the historic part of Kyoto is so cramped and narrow that you can hardly move about at the best of times, let alone during the peak of tourist season. Add to that the 35 c summer heat, and it can become rather unpleasant!



If you want to live like a normal human, Tokyo is indeed much more expensive than other parts of the country. It is possible to rent an apartment here for about USD $400 - $500 a month, but it would be closet-sized, with no bathroom or kitchen...just enough room to sleep. However, that's not most people's idea of a good time, so if you want a place that's actually liveable, you'll really need to shell out significantly more. Prices start to fall the closer you get to the outskirts of the city (i.e. chiba), but the downside is that you'd have a pretty long train ride into work every day if your workplace was in Tokyo.

Well, my one-room apartment in Korea does include kitchen facilities and a bathroom (ie. watercloset, literally) in the one room. I guess I'm doing pretty good! Maybe living in another city is a good idea?

 

[Blue Elvis With Coupons]

I'm jealous of y'all. I'd love to visit Japan.

Any Cajun restaruants in Japan? I could start one and be the talk of the town/country.

 

[Breetai]

Wow, renting a car in Japan is wayyy cheaper than I thought. Only about Y5000 a day! I drove from Fukuoka to Hiroshima and had a fun time looking around at a lot of places in between.

Any Cajun restaruants in Japan?

Sure, Japan has pretty much everything.

 

[Breetai]

I thought I'd bump up the original Japan thread my posted a few pictures of a Lutheran church that I found and one of a sign for a Catholic church (sorry, the actual church didn't look so interesting, so I didn't take a picture). These are all located near downtown (Tenjin) Fukuoka. I took them last Tuesday.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1171/806/1600/ALN 111.jpg

 

[Breetai]

Going to Fukuoka tomorrow again. (does anyone actually read this?)

 

[Blue Elvis With Coupons]

(does anyone actually read this?)

I do!

 

[Breetai]

Right on!

So, when are YOU going to visit Japan?

I still haven't been north of Hiroshima.

 

[Blue Elvis With Coupons]

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever be able to.

I'm stuck in a job I hate. Trying to save up money to move out of an apartment and into a house (apartment is getting too small for me, my wife and two kids). After 9 years of marriage we were finally able to take a 'real' vacation (not visiting relatives) and went to DisneyWorld.

For me to be able to visit, let alone bring my wife, would take a miracle.

For now I'll just live it through you.

 

[Breetai]

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll ever be able to.

I'm stuck in a job I hate. Trying to save up money to move out of an apartment and into a house (apartment is getting too small for me, my wife and two kids). After 9 years of marriage we were finally able to take a 'real' vacation (not visiting relatives) and went to DisneyWorld.

For me to be able to visit, let alone bring my wife, would take a miracle.

For now I'll just live it through you.

If you want to really live it through me, then feel free to read though my blog. The link is in my profile. (silly rules) You'll just have to ignore all the pictures of my partying. My pastor does. (I still can't believe that he reads that thing!)

 

[Overtime_man]

This is the first time that I've checked this thread, or any part of CF, in something like 2 or 3 months, and I'm amazed that this original Japan topic is still going -- and at the top of the Asia section, no less. (thanks in no small part to Breetai for keeping it alive during the lean summer months.) My old computer went down, and with the bookmark to CF getting lost in the transition to my new machine, I just got out of the habit of visiting the site. I've also been buried in work, which isn't at all conducive to posting on forums or getting enough sleep to function like a normal human being.

Anyway, to Blue Elvis With Coupons, don't give up your dream of visiting Japan, and definitely don't try to live it through Breetai -- you're far too likely to pick up a whole host of nasty vices if you attempt that. Joking, my man, joking! But seriously, there are ways of doing things on the cheap here, you just need to have the time and patience to search them out. I have neither time nor patience and consequently get overcharged for everything, but there are options to have a decent vacation here without breaking the bank..or so I'm told. Airfare from North America is still pretty hefty though, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[BeamMeUpScotty]

This is the first time that I've checked this thread, or any part of CF, in something like 2 or 3 months, and I'm amazed that this original Japan topic is still going -- and at the top of the Asia section, no less. (thanks in no small part to Breetai for keeping it alive during the lean summer months.) My old computer went down, and with the bookmark to CF getting lost in the transition to my new machine, I just got out of the habit of visiting the site. I've also been buried in work, which isn't at all conducive to posting on forums or getting enough sleep to function like a normal human being.

Anyway, to Blue Elvis With Coupons, don't give up your dream of visiting Japan, and definitely don't try to live it through Breetai -- you're far too likely to pick up a whole host of nasty vices if you attempt that. Joking, my man, joking! But seriously, there are ways of doing things on the cheap here, you just need to have the time and patience to search them out. I have neither time nor patience and consequently get overcharged for everything, but there are options to have a decent vacation here without breaking the bank..or so I'm told. Airfare from North America is still pretty hefty though, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Where are you? I'm in Shizuoka.