Request - Being an Atheist ALT in Japan

[nerdlass]

Hi, Jason. I didn't know about this other blog of yours. I was curious if there were other freethinker ALTs here, and you popped up! Glad to see you address this question. I try to teach about the various holidays, but focus on the fun stuff and make sure the kids know I don't believe the precepts, though my family does. And that's okay.

[TheMiddleNewton]

I am an atheist but I celebrate Christmas with my family. Not for the religious aspect of it but it's nice to have a day where you can give gifts to those you care about and have an excuse to get the whole family together.

If Christianity faded from society completely, I would think that Christmas or a day similar to it would continue to exist.

[TaishaJason]

@TheMiddleNewton Yeah, I agree. I try to send my family "Happy New Year" presents now, but we all know they're really Xmas gifts just a few days later. I avoid the celebrations by being in Japan, but if I was there, I would still participate in some of it. Anything that brings families together is a good thing.

[lslewis]

I didn't even know about this channel of yours. Good insight...

[TaishaJason]

@lslewis thanks.



[Gimmeaflakeman]

Good video, man. Never saw this one....

[TaishaJason]

@Gimmeaflakeman thanks. I have a few good ones tucked away on this 2nd channel

[laura121684]

Sumo rocks!!! XD

[TaishaJason]

@laura121684 yes it does! :)



[SirFakeName]

Why not tell them about the true origins of Christmas?

[SanguineBullet667]

you're awesome man

[TaishaJason]

@SanguineBullet667 haha - well, I do what I can... :)

[JovialEel]

Last I checked around 65% of Japans population described them self as being atheist compared to Americas ~15-18%. I don't think anyone would have much of a problem being an Atheist in Japan.

[Chuloloc]

Interesting. Much respect for Japan. 

[ManicParroT]

Haha, I always end up teaching the kids at elementary school about Halloween, and as a South African I don't know Halloween from a bar of soap :p

[slyther2]

can't we all get along?

[KedViper]

What are the people like? I'm pretty young an I'm considering moving to Japan so I'd like to know just how they act.

[TaishaJason]

The Japanese people in my area were always very kind to me and very interested in America and my life. Some of that is politeness and some is actual interest. See my JET vlog about racism on my main channel for more info.

[incognito84]

Ah, comment space is too short. Anyway, as I was saying, here a lot of people who employer Westerners as English teachers expect for them to be Christian and will sometimes make church mandatory. I've been nearly bullied into going to their church with them but I haven't caved in.

It sounds like Japan is much more diverse in it's religions, both native and foreign, and they seem to treat religion as if it's a personal matter and not one that needs to be forced onto others.

[TaishaJason]

yeah - well since the Japanese don't really go to church, you won't be pressured into going here in Japan.

[incognito84]

I'm moving to Japan in March from Korea (I've been teaching here for over two years). It sounds like Japan is going to be a bresh of fresh air. Here in Korea its not a problem to be an atheist but since a lot of Koreans are very strong Christians, you will be nagged about going to church everyday. Christians here are taught to have zero respect to atheists and they're also taught to never get off an atheist's back no matter how determined they are because we're "lost" and "don't know anything".

[kanzanagain]

Christmas in Japan is great fun for me as an agnostic/atheist! My wife isn't Christian, either, but we have lots of fun celebrating the holiday... also with her family that isn't Christian either!

As an English teacher, I do sometimes talk with my students about religions, but if I do I don't give Christianity any different treatment than I do other world religions. When I was an ALT this never came up, though...

[nyannyan123456]

Wow I was baptize catholic at birth. Then I was raised methodist unti about 13. Came to my senses and chose for myself to be an atheist. I've been enlighted ever since.

I will say when your in Japan they do have religious rituals that are performed. For instance My wife took me to a lot of schrines. People would wash their hands and sometimes drink water out of a well. Clap their hands a couple times and pray. I did not want to disrespect anyone so rolled with it too. Kind of awkward though.

[TaishaJason]

Well - I think that level of participation in Japan is akin to the way I now interact with people in the US around Xmas time - I say "Happy Holidays" and have no problem with Goodwill to All - but I don't buy presents anymore or decorate a tree, etc.

[tetrahydroscope]

@nyannyan123456 bullshit, no athiest is enlightened.

not one god, but many.

[nyannyan123456]

I suppose if that makes you feel good believe what you want. No matter how you look at it all faiths are silly superstion to different people.

[tetrahydroscope]

well to have faith in something, you must be certain of it. a superstition is a term for some old cultural practice that is misunderstood in what it is rooted in. some level of faith is required in any degree of enlightenment. I am certain of my soul, though modern science is not capable of detecting it. But i am certain of it, with the personal evidence of my subject experience. Its only a superstition if you choose to ignore the enormous basis of information, ignorance of a materialist .

[Xilosphere]

@tetrahydroscope Does a scorpion or a rabbit believe it has a soul...? Does understanding gravity require faith...? Please just answer "Yes" or "No"

:)

[tetrahydroscope]

@Xilosphere I don't think either of those animals have that capacity. believing in gravity requires faith in the physicists, unless your a physicist yourself. Yes or No? GFUS

[Xilosphere]

@tetrahydroscope No you idiot, gravity itself is realized and understood once anything falls... full stop. Faith is defined as "believing without evidence" and since everything in my room isn't floating. I don't need faith to know it exists.

And concerning the animals... There's no way you can assume another creatures capacity for having a spirit since its an intrinsically human concept. I could say my cactus has a "spirit" which guides it towards sunlight.. or is it simply the nature of it....

[tetrahydroscope]

@Xilosphere You have faith in the physicists, and the scientific method. Both of which were required to come to the understanding of gravity that both of us share. You obviously are narrow minded about the connotation of both the word 'faith' and 'spirit'. Since the former entails trust, and the latter entails intrinsic nature. SOUL and SPIRIT are actually distinguishable from one another, but I am writing this to someone who thinks their bedroom is a controlled experiment. So I can't blame you.

[Xilosphere]

@tetrahydroscope Gravity, is just a word. A word that describes the 'pulling down of everything' ..You don't need a scientific experiment to define a word... You'd sound rather daft if you said the same thing about 'bananas' or any other word used to describe an OBSERVABLE natural occurrence... By your logic, nothing exists unless you have faith in it... Me and a caveman can agree gravity exists without physicists or faith (belief without evidence)...

Also... Spirit + Soul... Difference?

[tetrahydroscope]

@Xilosphere LULZ xD. Yeah, sure, cavemen could conceptualize gravity. Whatever you say Mr. post-modern.

[Xilosphere]

@tetrahydroscope Yeah... I'd show them a magnet with metal... Then call the metal 'earth' LMAO

[tetrahydroscope]

@Xilosphere xD

[Xelico]

Damn Jason, way to just come out and say it :)

Seriously though...was not expecting that. You're one of the happiest vloggers I've seen on youtube, so I just thought it was kind of weird to find out you of all people were an atheist (I mean there are happy atheists on youtube, there just aren't that many). Anywho, it's good to know that the Japanese actually give ALTs a choice in regards to whether or not they want to teach their kids about christmas.

[hgnis]

The Japanese people as a whole are not as hung up on religion as the US is.

[Fourthworth]

For Japanese, religion is like a subscription to several magazines. If the magazine is good, then they'll keep reading it. If it tells you to go to church every sunday, then they'll quit, because it's pain in the ass. They just take the best part from each religion. As for them, many gods are better than one god because many gods will bring you more fortune than just one, like the concept of Seven Lucky Gods.

[TiramisuHappy]

BTW, I just noticed something in your body language which is very typical Japanese (at least to me) is when you tilted your head to the side in a bit of frustraion. (@ 4:00 mark)

I think you really are slowly turning Japanese whether you know it or not! : D

[TiramisuHappy]

There's a famous joke about how a typical Japanese person is born a natural Shintoist, gets married in a Christian ceremony and finally gets cremated in a Buddhist ritual. To a great extent, this is so very true. To a gaijin, in a strictly literal sense, the Japanese are a religiously-confused people. Religion is not something they devoutly practice, but rather something they take part in on different occasions all year-round. Kinda like religious Barbie/Ken dolls if you know what mean...

[smaviii]

meh living in such a diverse community like Canada really sucks, when you point out your beliefs in religion and stuff. I believe there's a god, but i choose not to cling so tightly to him as all the people who follow there religion do. i get told all the time that I'm going to live a miserable life, I won't be accepted in the next life stupid shit like that.

[kickthebass]

stop lying.

[smaviii]

lol i'm not.

[ActiveAero]

I believe the key difference is that the two major religions of Japan are not based around the worship of a centralized "all powerful" being. Their religions deal with understanding with one's inner self and finding harmony/showing respect with nature. This is vastly different from religions that are based around a strict dogma that is not to be questioned.

You could almost say that the Japanese are deeply religious atheists, as little sense as that seems to make haha.

[seklarwia]

Ultranordic is right; you can't really say western countries. Europe on the whole is pretty accepting of most religious beliefs including atheism.

Here in the UK, being an Atheist is very common and nothing to hide or be ashamed of.

My mothers family is Hindu, but my father's is Church of England, so we were raised to be aware of religion but were never forced to attend temples or churches until a day when we could decide for ourselves what faith (if any) we would follow. This is normal here.

[puckman]

I can't wait to move to Japan. Being an Atheist in western countries sucks as I get told daily that I will burn in hell or that people feel sorry for me because I lack the light...

[tshibuta]

for an Atheist, it will be very good idea to come to Japan

[puckman]

Maybe Japan can become a safe haven for Atheist around the world?

[tshibuta]

you know I can`t read other people`s minds, hehe. but as far as I can remember, most of people I knew were Non-Believers even if they go to temples to pray for Anthesters(it only serves in cultural way).

so I believe on behalf of my knowledge, that Japan is one of the most Atheistic nation on the Earth. I assure you that you wouldn`t be looked with disgust for speaking out that you are an Atheist.

[ultranordic]

Don't say "Western countries" in general. In Scandinavia around 80% of us are explicit atheists. Can't really imagine it is so bad in the UK either, in America things probably are pretty bad for rationalists.

[42317]

I'm impressed how you can talk for almost ten minutes about this topic - I would have just said: "In Japan your religion doesn't matter at all." In Japan I can freely say that I am an atheist, I guess I wouldn't dare say this openly in the US, unless in a liberal environment.

You should buy a tripod. Your backgrounds are very scenic at times.

[ensortion]

Christmas cake and kfc chicken? I'd like to hear more about these odd traditions (odd to me anyway). The rest of this vlog? Welllllll, religion has always been a grey area in my life, nothing was pushed on me by my parents, and I haven't gotten into anything myself...is that what atheism is, non-belief in pretty much any religion? :s me = ignorant on religion lol

[TheFrenchGuy]

Religion has always been kind like a personal philosophy in the Far East. Genghis Khan himself preached for freedom of belief in his Empire. He also sought to learn about Christianity, Islam, and other major religions of the time and regions, in hope of better understanding of himself and world; enlightenement. It is like that in Japan too. Many Westerner's girlfriend adopt Christianity, while not giving up the Shinto and Buddhist traditions. Syncretism and religion as a personal philosophy.

[Hoonta]

Thanks for the video. This was a question of mine too.

I too am thankful for all the insightful youtube videos out there. It is almost like a support group! Also reading the book The God Delusion helped me with my confidence as an atheist.

The things like Santa, Christmas and the like are just traditions of western society. Part of the reason the school systems want us foreigners.

Knowing that in Japan they can have "XMAS" everywhere and not have people condemn them is cool with me.

[tommiskey]

I'm agnostic myself, and I was asked to play Santa, talk about the holidays, etc. But they wanted to know about Christmas trees and Santa, not Jesus.

Also, if you go to Japan, you should not let your agnosticism/atheism prevent you from visiting/staying at temples and learning about Shintoism and Buddhism while you're there. Always respect their beliefs, don't belittle or put down their religion even if you don't believe in it. I've met some atheists who hate religion and must confront it.

[myargonauts]

yeah - good advice.

Altho I must say that most of the time, when I've been at ceremonies or shrines, and JETs have been asked to take part, it's the devout Christians who refuse to participate, citing "take no other gods but our God" type rhetoric. But yeah - I guess I'm a fairly tolerant Atheist in public situations.

[LordMalice6d9]

I'm an Agnostic as well, and I am usaully tolerant of most atheists with the exception of the militant variety. But the certain atheists who hate religion I've noticed are relatively a minority within atheism as a whole.

[ultranordic]

"Militant atheists" as in those who strap bombs on themselves and blow up churches? Or those that write books and engage in debates?

[basch2020]

As a sidenote 6:00 If you were from England or Australia you would know about Halloween given the fact that it started in the UK as the pagan new year.

[JapanPlz]

Jason, i really love how you take the opportunity to go outside to answer what seems such a simple question as this. I think its something that makes you better than a lot of Vloggers. We don't see the same backdrop month after month. Thumbs up to ya

[TaishaJason]

yeah - I was doing my BusanKevin imitation in this vlog, except without all the strenuous walking. :)

Thanks for the support.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

This was an interesting video. I am personally Agnostic and just fine with saying that. I did not know you were personally Atheist Jason, but that's cool to know now. =) I wouldn't say I'm in the same boat as an Atheist, but I would think we're kind of similar as to say we don't really have a place to go like Christians etc. Thanks for the video.

-Billy-

[TaishaJason]

thanks Billy.

[JapanPlz]

Serios question i've been meaning to ask as well. Do JETs get paid? Or do you just get enough for food and your living expenses are paid for you? I couldn't find this on the JET website... thanks. I'm just concerened because I planned to go fresh out of college and i want to make sure i will be able to pay my student loans.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

You do get paid. He has a video up on his youtube homepage answering this question. You get about $33,000 a year I believe. That amount doesn't change, it has been the same since the beginning (which needs to change because the cost of living has changed significantly). You get paid once a month, but the first month you're there, you do not get paid so bring enough money to last throughout that first month there. Hope this helped ya.

-Billy-

[JapanPlz]

Thanks a lot! Sorry i missed that little bit in his videos, thought i had watched them all.

[WhiteMatrix2006]

No problem buddy. I've been doing a lot of research on the JET Programme also because starting next August, I will begin my application process for it. I will be a Senior this August and I can apply for it as long as I show that I will graduate before I leave for the program (if I'm accepted of course). Don't give up on your drive to go to Japan with the program. It's a great program and a great opportunity to experience another culture and country. Hope you make it. =)

-Billy-

[JapanPlz]

I don't plan to give on Japan, that's my Major as of now, Japanese. I want Japan to be a major part in my life and i can't wait until the day i get there.

[TaishaJason]

Yep - Billy is right.  The salary is 300,000yen per month, or 3.6 million yen a year, which is roughly $36,000/year with the current exchange rate.

[theburlyman]

Thank you for answering this question for me Jason.