Have you seen a Japanese bible before?

[kawahime]

Hmm.... I know it's kind of an obscure question, but I've always wanted to try to read a Japanese bible. I'm assuming a few of you have some Japanese reading ability right? My mom is Japanese and she said that their Christian beliefs are different from ours. I don't know which denominations that all of you are in, but a lot of Japanese don't believe in the Trinity, but in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as three completely seperate entities. It's very interesting. I was wondering if any of you have had the chance to pick up a Japanese bible.

Diana

[ShiroiHikari]

I haven't had the chance, I don't even know where to get one, but that would be really interesting. Of course I'd have to get better at reading kanji first...can't get far without knowing that.

[Saint]

so like wouldn't the bible be like exactly the same? i mean we all have the same bibles and so many different beliefs. thats what i am intrested, what is the general beliefs of Japanese christians. hey, i say as long as we all have Christ, dying for us and rasing agian, then we'er cool. we will know all the rest in time.
but that is of intrest to me, you know cause i was in the understanding that japan wasn't all that religious? (from a christian stand point)

[andyroo]

I know that the Gideons hand out free bibles in all different languages, and I am definately sure that they have a Japanese translation (of the KJV). I have never touched one myself.

It's seems to me that the Japanese are trying to rationalize God. I find that impossible. He is one being, but three seperate entities at the same time. If you are a Christian I can argue that you are three entities, too. The mind, the body, and the Holy Spirit, but not on the same level as w/ God. The body can't live without the mind and the mind will still live on, but can't be pure without the Holy Spirit as to get into heaven.

<edit>Yep, I agree with Saint. I thought they pretty much rejected Christianity, or at least assimilated it into their beliefs.

[uc pseudonym]

Two part response. First, I think you guys are generalizing a bit too much about the Japanese. I personally know several Japanese Christians, and I know of multiple works going on in the country. They're like us; they have their Christians, athiest and apathiests.

Also, I have seen a Japanese Bible (no, actually just part of one). A guy at my church was a missionary there for a while. My Japanese reading skills leave much to be desired, but I have seen one.

[kawahime]

Here in Vancouver we have the Missions Fest every spring and I went to Japanese Christians' seminar. They talked about religion and Japan. It's more like a part of their lifestyle. Sort of how almost everyone here celebrates Christmas. That's why it's so hard for missionaries in Japan, because it's like pulling away their culture (to them). Someday I want to go to Japan as a missionary if that's what God has in store for me. ^_^

uc pseudonym - I felt a bit that way too - that I was generalizing a lot. But I didn't say all. My mom lived on an island where almost everyone was a Christian. Anyways, It was wonderful. Especcially since about 1% of Japanese are Christians! Anyway, that's what the minister on the island taught and what my mom grew up with: that there is no Trinity.

Diana

[Technomancer]

Cool.

kawahime- I'm curious, is your mother's family from southern Japan? (say around Nagasaki and Kyushu). I don't wish to pry, it's just that I recall that's the area where Christianity was introduced by the Jesuits, and where it held out in some parts during the persecutions. Just wondered if there was a connection.

[kawahime]

Yeah... My mom's from a little island called Teshima in the Seto Inland Sea. It's between Shikoku and Honshu. Not really close to Kyuushuu though.

Diana

[kawahime]

Technomancer - is your avatar from the old SNES Final Fantasy?? Because the guy looks oddly familiar...

Diana

[Technomancer]

You're right, my avatar's a game sprite from FF1

[express]

I haven't seen any in book form, but there is an online version at this link: Japanese: The Living Bible

You'll need Acrobat Reader to read it. It doesn't have the little kana above the kanji, so, in order to read it, you'll need to know a lot of kanji. I was hoping that it did have the kana so I could look up words in a Japanese dictionary I have, but oh well...

Hope this helps.

[kawahime]

thanks for the link!!!

Diana

[express]

No problem.

[valdrianth]

My friend Dana (owner of the GirlZ anime palace) is Catholic. She went to Japan last here for a few month to teach English there. She said there were few Christians where she lived. She did manage however to find a Catholic church in the city where she lived. (yay for Dana ^^). She said all the people were really nice there and opened her with open arms. Unfortunately during the mass it as quite hard to understand what they were saying. I know there are Christians in Japan but most people there are either Buddiest of Aethiest. I have a Japanese friend who is Buddiest, she's an awesome person, and she has a lot of cats.

Dana did tell me this awesome story though. It's about this man in Japan that got in this horrible accident. He had lost his arms and legs. After the accident he became a Christian. Not too long after he learned to write, type, and draw with his mouth!! Dana said he writes better than she does!

[uc pseudonym]

Well, the word Japan is in the title of the thread, so I suppose this isn't too offtopic. Last Sunday a member of our congregation told a story about the years that he had served as a missionary in Japan. It encouraged me somewhat, and made me think that there's more hope than we think. Here it is:

He had just arrived, and he didn't know the language. So he was staying in a small town with a language school to learn. The plan was to relocate to a bigger location once he was able to witness better. However, the building was worn down, and the only carpenter they could find didn't speak English. With the help of friends, they managed to hire him. They communicated mainly by "signs and wonders." The missionary made signs and the carpenter wondered what he was trying to say.

Anyway, the missionary wanted a doorframe removed and a wall built where it had been. He tried to explain how to take off the doorframe (a seperate piece of wood), and then left on other business. He returned to find the carpenter was methodically hacking through the doorframe, ruining it and making a mess of the floor. Realizing he hadn't explained well enough, he got a chisel and began to pry away the doorframe to show him how it was done. The carpenter was very surprised. Because it was nearly closing time, he left and the missionary swept up after him. The next day he returned and did the job just fine.

Once they knew the language, they headed to start their missionary work. They did give the carpenter some tracts, but they weren't too optimistic, since he had gotten tracts from others before and not converted. After years of work, the missionary had completely forgotten about him. By chance, he was in the same town, and learned that he had converted some time ago, and was leading a small church! They were very happy about this, but had no idea why it had happened.

One night, the missionary got a chance to ask him about it. He smiled, and asked if he remembered the doorframe so many years ago. The missionary vaguely did. The carpenter explained that he had worked for many foreigners before. Whenever he did something wrong, they would yell at him and some fired him. In Japan, a carpenter always sweeps up before he leaves, but because he was embaressed, he forgot to do so. But they hadn't gotten angry, they had merely tried again; even more amazing, they had actually done part of his job for him. Unable to understand why they did this, he was confused for some time. He knew they were different, but he didn't know why. And then he remembered some tracts he had been given...

Well, I found it encouraging.

[kawahime]

Thanks for the wonderful story, uc. I do have faith in Japan because do you know what? My mother's minister in Japan converted most of the Christians on the island she grew up on. She loves cats, like valdrianth's Buddhist friend does ^_^

I'm sorry blufire, I didn't really understand what you meant about being in an anime...? Nevertheless, I want to study more this summer because school has been really busy last year...

Thanks for you guys' encouragement!

Diana

[lonelyone]

Thanks for the wonderful story, uc. I do have faith in Japan because do you know what? My mother's minister in Japan converted most of the Christians on the island she grew up on. She loves cats, like valdrianth's Buddhist friend does ^_^

I'm sorry blufire, I didn't really understand what you meant about being in an anime...? Nevertheless, I want to study more this summer because school has been really busy last year...

Thanks for you guys' encouragement!

Diana

I know of a family from the USA, who are going to be missionaries to the japan people sometime next year, i have not had much contact with them, but i think they are looking forward to this. The travel channel had a special not to long ago, and it was on Hong Kong, and Jackie Chan was on there, i guess you could say he was the host of the show.

[Bobtheduck]

A Japanese translation of the KJV? I think that there needs to be a direct translation from Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek to Japanese... A translation of a translation is just asking for trouble...

I have a Japanese Bible... It's massive! I don't know if it was just translated from the KJV... This is a job for "Steve" (if you don't know, don't ask)

[Shinja]

eh steve!

[glitch1501]

my friend is going to japan this summer, i think i might ask him to pick me up a bible

[uc pseudonym]

my friend is going to japan this summer, i think i might ask him to pick me up a bible

That would be interesting. Personally, I will want a Japanese Bible when I can truly read Japanese...

Meanwhile, this is another old thread brought back to life. I'm not saying that's a bad thing (it is original) but it is also old.