Abstract
Recent surveys estimate roughly seventy percent of the Japanese population as having no religious affiliation. Even seemingly religious activities, such as Buddhist funerals, Shinto weddings, and Christmas celebrations, are practiced regardless of religious background and are often devoid of any deeply religious sentiment. There are even some accounts of Shinto priests who do not prescribe to the Shinto faith, but rather hold the position through inheritance and family obligation. These unique circumstances cause researchers to question; if religious experiences are not being provided to the Japanese population by strictly “religious” activities, where can they be acquired? Looking specifically at Victor Turner’s description of a liminal experience, certain seemingly “secular” locations and activities can be described in the same manner and language as the liminal religious experience. The use of the liminal process as a plot device can be seen frequently in Japanese media and popular culture, including films, novels, television shows, and manga comic books. This expression is important in the context of modern Japanese atheism, as such narratives may provide the profound religious sentiment not supplied by everyday religious practices. In this way, the consumption of such media in itself can be considered a religious experience.
How to Cite
Zeman, C., (2014) “Finding Religion: Liminality in Japanese Popular Culture”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 27(1).
0
Views
0
Downloads