Finding Religion in Manga and Anime:  Spreading Spiritual Thought in the Absence of Traditional Institutions

People in Japan have increasingly moved away from institutionalized religion, meaning these institutions are no longer the primary purveyors of religious and spiritual thought in Japan. This thesis seeks to argue that manga and anime serve as a new way for people to interact with religious and spiritual ideas. This is explored by discussing the ties between secularization, modernization, and changes in Japanese society. It also discusses the role played by the media in forming spiritual thought and analyzes comments from Westerners in online discussion boards about anime. This research finds that spiritual ideas in Japan grew to fit the changing spiritual needs of the people, needs affected by social changes caused by secularization and modernization. Manga and anime, serving as reflections of Japanese society, incorporate these themes and spread them to a large audience both within and outside Japan. Consumers of these products interact with the religious and spiritual themes...Show morePeople in Japan have increasingly moved away from institutionalized religion, meaning these institutions are no longer the primary purveyors of religious and spiritual thought in Japan. This thesis seeks to argue that manga and anime serve as a new way for people to interact with religious and spiritual ideas. This is explored by discussing the ties between secularization, modernization, and changes in Japanese society. It also discusses the role played by the media in forming spiritual thought and analyzes comments from Westerners in online discussion boards about anime. This research finds that spiritual ideas in Japan grew to fit the changing spiritual needs of the people, needs affected by social changes caused by secularization and modernization. Manga and anime, serving as reflections of Japanese society, incorporate these themes and spread them to a large audience both within and outside Japan. Consumers of these products interact with the religious and spiritual themes portrayed, using them to foster an interest in spiritual ideas and to reflect on their own spirituality.Show less

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Finding Religion in Manga and Anime: Spreading Spiritual Thought in the Absence of Traditional Institutions