"love thy neighbour as thyself" - An Old Year is Going

Shinto shrine waiting for million or more visitors after 12:00 a.m. of January 1, around Tokyo

An Old Year is Going

So, the year 2015 has ended in Japan.

The year 2015 was the year for refugees from the Middle East to Europe in the world.

It was the year when some power to stop evil deeds came to appear in Japan along with the demolition of the $3 billion extravagant plan of construction of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics stadium and the cancellation of the Olympic emblem under suspicion of copyright infringement.

However, China came to reveal its evil aggression policy toward the world while the US was absorbed by capitalistic Trump's emergence in the 2016 Presidential election race.

The year 2016 will more intensify these trends on the earth.

So, an old year is going and a new year is coming like in the world 2000 years ago or 4000 years ago though the current calendar system was adopted by the Vatican in the late 16th century, 100 years later after Columbus.  




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Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mar 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mar 12:33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mar 12:34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

"the prince of this world be cast out"

Shinto shrine in preparation for New Year visitors around Tokyo








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Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

"seek not ye what ye shall eat" - Difference between Us and Roman Believers

Tokyo Station

Difference between Us and Roman Believers

How did people in the Roman Empire come to accept Christianity between the fall of Jerusalem in the late first century to the fall of the Roman Empire in the late fifth century?

What messages and contents of the teaching of early Christianity and the Bible appealed to the minds and hearts of the ancient Romans?

First of all, till Christianity prevailed, the Roman citizens had been living in the society of polytheism.  Many gods and deities had been revered in the Empire, though Judaists believed in only one God of their own.  Therefore, the concept of the only one god over mankind was so remote to them.  If any Christian had told them the theory of the one and only God, Roman citizens should not have accepted it easily.

But, as a matter of historical fact, they eventually accepted the idea of the one and only God over mankind.  But how did early Christians persuade Roman citizens to believe their God?

One of keys is the Bible.  The Gospels were not complied after Roman citizens accepted the faith in Christ Jesus.  It was compiled prior to the large-scale conversion of Roman citizens to Christianity.  The Gospels were written in Greeks so that Roman citizens could read and understand, since Greek was the common language in the Empire.

Whatever a strange early Christian told to Roman citizens, they would soon forget it.  But, if a document containing the work by Christ Jesus was presented or read to Roman citizens, they would rather take it more serious.  As result, some of them came to believe Christ Jesus and the only and one God.

Of course, in addition to the existence of the Bible, behaviors and deeds of early Christians must have also appealed to Roman citizens.  As early Christians lived honest and moral living, some of them must have acquired respect from Roman citizens.  Many of Roman mothers must have taught their children to learn from early Christians in the Empire.  However, there must have been a great gap between respect for early Christians in terms of morality and total conversion to Christianity.  Romans who wondered if they should join early Christians must have needed some evidence on the one and only God.  And, the Gospels played a role of that evidence.

After reading the Gospels, Romans got confidence that there is the only and one God over mankind.  But why?

Or conversely, the Gospels had been compiled so that Romans would come to believe in the one and only God.  Christ Jesus in the Bible was depicted as the one who had been chosen by the one and sole God.  He only prayed to the one and only God.  Christ Jesus had been depicted as one who believed in the one and only God.  So, Roman readers would try to know how deeds and words of Christ Jesus had been fit for the theory of the monotheistic teaching of early Christians.  And consequently, they confirmed that Christ Jesus was the Son of the one and only God.

Though Christ Jesus was crucified and killed by Roman soldiers, Roman citizens who read the Bible eventually came to believe Christianity, Christ Jesus, and the God of Christ Jesus.  It looks like a great mystery for us living in the 21st century or in the world 2000 years after the holy mission of Christ Jesus on the earth.

At least, in this context, it must have been very important that Christ Jesus had resurrected after the Crucifixion for Romans.  But, more importantly, the words of Christ Jesus written in the Bible must have significant influences on Romans.  Probably, even miracles should have happened around those sincere Bible readers in their daily lives.  The words contained in the Bible must have worked as the spirit of Christ Jesus on Roman readers.  You may wonder specifically what words in the Bible moved the souls of Romans.  However, it looks most likely that all the words of Christ Jesus in the Bible functioned well for this purpose.

But there is a question.  How differently Roman citizens read the Bible from people today living.  Everything is so different between situations where citizens of the Roman Empire were living and those where we are today living.

Or we might have lost some crucial ability to understand the words of Christ Jesus while ancient Romans had it.

Then, there might be a need for a new Bible to be compiled today.  But who could write it based on his observation of holy work by Christ Jesus who left this world 2000 years ago in the historical term?  







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Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

"Which is the first commandment of all?" - Christianity, Commercialism and Democracy/Freedom

Tokyo Station

Christianity, Commercialism and Democracy/Freedom

Europeans colonized many regions in Africa and Asia and exploited many Africans and Asians.  They even destroyed some cultural heritage of those peoples.

But Europeans have not been essentially sorry for them.  Because Europeans have thought that they taught advanced civilization to Africans and Asians.  So, Europeans think that colonized people of Africa and Asia should be thankful to European colonial rulers as they introduced advanced civilization into regions they colonized.

And the core of the European civilization is Christianity.  One of excuses for Europeans to have ventured into the world, establishing colonies, is that they had a mission to spread Christianity.  But Christianity could not replace Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, etc., though it was accepted by some peoples mostly living in some regions of Africa and Central/South Americas where no such traditional and sophisticated religions were practiced.

In other word, materially the European civilization prevailed.  Material products of the European civilization have been widely accepted even in the Islamic world, India, China, Southeast Asia, Japan, etc.  But, people of these areas have not totally adopted Christianity.

Till the 20th century, Europeans thought that only Europeans living in Christian environments could develop the material part of the European civilization.  As Muslims, Indians, Southeast Asians, Chinese, and Japanese didn't convert to Christianity, Europeans thought, they could not develop modern science and technology.

But, Japanese drastically changed this view.  Japanese, still being Buddhists and Shintoists, carried out its version of the Industrial Revolution from the late 19th century.  Its scientific and technological development has never ceased through the 20th century and, especially WWII.  Even before WWII, Japan was recognized as an industrial and military power competing with European powers.

To adopt and develop the material side of the European civilization, you don't have to become Christians.  This is what Japan proved in the 20th century.  Owing to the Japanese success, today India, China, and other Asian nations are developing their industries without converting to Christianity.  But before Japan's success prior to WWII or since the late 19th century, it was widely believed not only by Europeans but by peoples in the world that only Christian Europeans could develop the modern industry.

Globalization of economy means that the Islamic nations, India, Southeast Asians, Chinese, and other nations that were once regarded as impossible nations for developing modern industry are now actively promoting their versions of the Industrial Revolution.

Nonetheless, there is one new common religion prevailing in all these newly industrialized nations as well as Europe, the US, and Japan.  It is faith in wealth and money, which may be termed capitalism or commercialism.  Today no rich Europeans ask Asians what religions they believe but how much money they have.

Of course, democracy and freedom are other elements prevailing along with commercialism.  As the US is enjoying its material success based on huge material wealth while maintaining the American democracy and freedom, newly industrialized countries are expected to adopt full or American-style democracy and freedom.

In this context, it is still only Japan that has such democracy and freedom of people, though the Japanese society has still underlying influential power of Buddhism and Shintoism.

The friction in the world mostly arises from this point.  The Islamic nations, India, China, and even Russia cannot fully introduce democracy and freedom in their societies due to their unique historical, political, cultural, and religious conditions.

But will America play a role of a teacher teaching democracy and freedom to those nations?  The EU looks very reluctant to join such a mission.  Japan is just watching how America will decide, since Japan introduced almost fully American-style democracy and freedom after WWII.

Whether or not the US and the EU are working on those nations for adoption of full democracy and freedom, these nations have to undergo an era of trial as to how much they can allow their peoples to enjoy democracy and freedom, another core of the modern Western Civilization.

But for this cause, will American troops advance and occupy, say, Damascus, Riyadh, Moscow, and Beijing in addition to Pyongyang?

  




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Mar 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

"came there a voice from heaven" - Some Global News

Some Global News

We heard global news: the Iraqi forces regained a certain important city from IS; floods are observed in England and around Brazil; violent weather destroyed 600 houses and killed 11 or so residents in Texas; and Japan and South Korea reached an agreement on solution of the so-called Comfort Woman Issue.

But not yet glorious news, though the Kingdom of God cannot be seen?


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Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

"I am the God of Abraham" - Miracle of 360 Days per Year

Gymnasium, a legacy of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics

Miracle of 360 Days per Year

One year is remarkably about 360 days but not 350 days or 370 days.

That is why the Sumerians developed a numbering system based on 60 more than 5000 years ago.  Accordingly they divided a day into 6 that was further divided by four, the first half and the second half of each of the night and the day times, namely 24 hours.

These numbers 360 and 24 are still used today as basses for counting days per year and hours per day.  We also measure the angle of a circle as 360 degrees.

We are still under an influence of the Sumerian Civilization.  And, Abraham was born around the Sumerian city Ur about 4000 years ago.  He must have been also under the Sumerian civilization.  Abraham must have also known that a year consists of 360 days and a day consists of 24 hours.

The fact that 360 and 24 are so convenient as bases for our modern lives implies that the 60-based numbering system allowed the Sumerians and other ancient people to develop their versions of science and culture.  The human sense to numerals or number symbols must have been developed so well as one year has 360 days almost.  If it had been 350 days or 370 days, the Sumerian civilization and other ancient civilization, including the ancient Greek civilization, had not been so well developed in a sophisticated manner.

Put simply, it is a miracle that one year on the earth has 360 days.  It is as if God had set it so to allow mankind to develop their intellectual power so smoothly.

Mathematics started to begin when Sumerians found that one year is 360 days almost.  And it must be God who had set it so.

However it is known scientifically that one year of the earth 350 million years ago was 400 days.  When the Pangaea Continent was formed 250 million years ago, along with the emergence of dinosaurs, the number of days per year suddenly decreased to 360 days almost eventually.

The number of days per year on the earth in the past determined from coral fossils.
(The unity of the numbers on the upper horizontal line is a hundred of million years ago.
The numbers on the right vertical axis are days per year.)
http://ameblo.jp/oldworld/entry-11237169103.html


Anyway December 25 is almost the 360th day of a year.  So, one of the biggest Christmas present from God to the mankind must be His setting to the number of days per year at 360 days or so for development of civilization of mankind.


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Mar 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

"shall keep it unto life eternal" - Mystery of the Old Testament in the Bible

Tokyo

Mystery of the Old Testament in the Bible

Why is the Old Testament attached to the New Testament as part of the Christian Bible?

The reason must be that when the Bible was compiled and established at the end of the fourth century by sorting out various documents related to work of early Christians and so on, Judaist Christians still accounted for a considerable percentage.

Christianity must not have been separately taught but along with Judaism in synagogues mostly in cities where many diaspora Jewry lived.  In the Roman Empire, Christianity must have spread though synagogues in Rome and other cities to other Roman citizens who associated with those Judaists.

If at the end of the 4th century, a majority of Christians in the Roman Empire had been others than Judaists, the Old Testament books should not have been adopted for the Christian Bible, or at least not all of the books of the Old Testament books should have been adopted.

So, till the 5th century, in the Roman Empire, there must have been a considerable number of Judaists who were also Christians.  They must have joined both the Christian churches and the Judaists synagogues.  And, they must have claimed to adopt the Old Testament for the compilation of the Christian Bible.

However, at the same time, the Great Barbarian Invasion started, having been triggered by the Huns moving from the central Asia to east Europe.  As if having been pushed by the Huns, various tribes of northern and eastern Europeans and other races invaded the territory of the Roman Empire, putting the end to the rule of Rome in the late 5th century.

I suppose in the period between the end of the 4th century and the end of the 5th century when the Western Roman Empire collapsed, the separation between Judaists and Judaist Christians occurred.  After this period, no more Judaists came to become Judaist Christians.  And, Christians stopped inviting Judaists to Christian churches.

But as the Christian Bible was compiled and established at the end of the 4th century, the existence of Judaist Christians was reflected in the adoption of the Old Testament for part of the Bible.

But why and how did the Great Barbarian Invasion contribute to the complete separation between Christians and Judaists?

Probably, Christians in the Roman Empire tried to save some legacy of the Empire, thus concentrating their activities around Rome, which must have led to the establishment of the Vatican.  On the other hand, Judaists did not fight against northern and eastern invaders but rather welcomed them as they could be free from the rule by Romans who had once occupied and destroyed Jerusalem.

Therefore, even today it must be easier for Judaists to convert to Christianity as the Bible includes the Old Testament that is a collection of Judaism books.

Anyway, the Old Testament in the Bible reminds us that Christianity started among Judaists and was propagated by Judaists.




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migration_Period



http://www.religionandspirituality.com/view/post/1360877079145/




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Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Mar 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

Luk 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

Joh 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

"again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus" - A Japanese Buddhist Monk of the Samurai Era

Tokyo

A Japanese Buddhist Monk of the Samurai Era

There was a humble Buddhist monk hundreds years ago or in the samurai era of Japan.

Ryokan did not live in and preside over a temple, which means that he was not in an official position as an elite member of the society, since samurai authorities at the time controlled people by forcing them to belong to Buddhist temples in villages and towns.  In those days, Buddhist temples functioned as a kind of administrative office.

He lived in a small and humble hut built in a temple or a shrine in a local area facing the Sea of Japan.  He just taught and spiritually guided villagers, using simple words and expressions, without acting like an ordinary Buddhist priest.  But mostly he loved to play with children.

However when he was young, Ryokan learnt hard Buddhism and performed Buddhist practices so sincerely, though he was born in a house of a rich farmer.  He underwent Zen Buddhism training in a long-established temple in west Japan for 12 years to be certified as official Buddhist monk.  Then, his teacher in the temple died, telling him to do what he wished after his death.  So, Ryokan started to travel various areas in Japan to finally settle in the humble hut in the temple near his home village.

What made Ryokan famous was his excellent skill of art of calligraphy and Japanese poem.  While Ryokan was alive, some notable people in the era sometimes asked him to write words for them.  Even some notable scholars living in Edo (presently Tokyo), the capital of the samurai government, visited Ryokan's humble hut.

Today Ryokan was recognized as one of the best calligraphers in the Japanese history, though he has been sometimes depicted in books or animation movies for children of today as a gentle old monk who loved poor children of poor villages in the samurai era.

One of well-known Japanese poems he wrote is:
Cherry blossoms are falling down
     to the ground as their life is expired.
But some cherry blossoms are still open
     in the tree as if they were exultant
Yet remaining ones will be falling ones soon
     since they are the same cherry blossoms.




By Ryokan ("Above the sky, a big wind")
http://www.shodo-journal.com/knowledge/jryokan.html




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Joh 12:22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
Joh 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

"when Herod had sought for him" - Mysterious Egypt

Tokyo

Mysterious Egypt

The yeast of bread was fist discovered in Egypt though barley and wheat were brought to Egypt from Mesopotamia.

It is also impressive that the Bible depicted the journey to Egypt for both the stories of Abraham and Christ Jesus.  Moses was also half-Egyptian.

Egypt is still mysterious.  Something crucial to Christianity might be waiting in Egypt for its discovery.

The Nag Hammadi Library, a collection of thirteen ancient books (called "codices") containing over fifty texts, was discovered in upper Egypt in 1945. This immensely important discovery includes a large number of primary "Gnostic Gospels" – texts once thought to have been entirely destroyed during the early Christian struggle to define "orthodoxy" – scriptures such as the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Truth. The discovery and translation of the Nag Hammadi library, initially completed in the 1970's, has provided impetus to a major re-evaluation of early Christian history and the nature of Gnosticism.
http://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html

Nag Hammadi Texts - Index by Codex Location
Codex I (The Jung Codex)
The Prayer of the Apostle Paul
(Meyer translation)
(Mueller CGLP translation)
The Apocryphon (Secret Book) of James
(Meyer and Barnstone translation)
(Williams CGLP translation)
(Cameron translation)
The Gospel of Truth*
(Barnstone & Meyer translation)
(Grant translation)
(Attridge & MacRae CGLP translation)
The Treatise on the Resurrection
(Barnstone translation)
(Peel CGLP translation)
The Tripartite Tractate
(Attridge and Mueller CGPL translation)
Codex II
The Apocryphon (Secret Book) of John* – long version
(Meyer translation)
(Davies translation)
(Waldstein & Wisse - Short Version translation)
(Waldstein & Wisse - Long Version translation)
(Wisse CGLP translation)
See the Aprocryphon of John Collection for more information
The Gospel of Thomas
(Meyer translation)
(Davies translation)
(Lambdin CGLP translation)
(Patterson & Meyer translation)
(Patterson & Robinson translation)
See the Gospel of Thomas Collection for more information
The Gospel of Philip
(Meyer translation)
(Barnstone translation)
(Isenberg CGLP translation)
The Hypostasis of the Archons – The Reality of the Rulers
(Barnstone & Meyer translation)
(Layton CGLP translation)
On the Origin of the World*
(Barnstone & Meyer translation)
(Bethge & Layton CGLP translation)
The Exegesis on the Soul
(Barnstone & Meyer translation)
(Robinson CGLP translation)
The Book of Thomas the Contender
(Turner Annotated translation)
(Turner CGLP translation)

Codex III
The Apocryphon (Secret Book) of John* – short version
(Waldstein & Wisse - Short Version translation)
See the Aprocryphon of John Collection for more information
The Gospel of the Egyptians*
(Bohlig & Wisse CGLP translation)
Eugnostos the Blessed*
(Parrott CGLP translation)
The Sophia of Jesus Christ
(Parrott CGLP translation)
The Dialogue of the Savior
(Emmel CGLP translation)
Codex IV
The Apocryphon (Secret Book) of John* – long version
(Waldstein & Wisse - Long Version translation)
See the Aprocryphon of John Collection for more information
The Gospel of the Egyptians*
(Bohlig & Wisse CGLP translation)
Codex V
Eugnostos the Blessed*
(Parrott CGLP translation)
The Apocalypse (Revelation) of Paul
(MacRae & Murdock CGLP translation)
The (First) Apocalypse (Revelation) of James
(Schoedel CGLP translation)
The (Second) Apocalypse (Revelation) of James
(Hedrick CGLP translation)
The Apocalypse (Revelation) of Adam
(Barnstone translation)
(MacRae CGLP translation)
Codex VI
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
(Parrott & McL.Wilson CGLP translation)
The Thunder, Perfect Mind
(Barnstone translation)
(MacRae CGLP translation)
Authoritative Teaching
(MacRae CGLP translation)
The Concept of Our Great Power
(Wisse CGLP translation)
Plato, Republic 588A-589B
(Brashler CGLP translation)
The Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth
(Meyer translation)
(Brashler, Dirkse & Parrott CGLP translation)
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Brashler, Dirkse & Parrott CGLP translation)
Asclepius 21-29
(Brashler, Dirkse & Parrott CGLP translation)
Codex VII
The Paraphrase of Shem
(Barnstone translation)
(Wisse CGLP translation)
The Second Treatise of the Great Seth
(Barnstone translation)
(Bullard & Gibbons CGLP translation)
The Apocalypse (Revelation) of Peter
(Brashler & Bullard CGLP translation)
The Teachings of Silvanus
(Peel & Zandee CGLP translation)
The Three Steles of Seth
(Meyer & Barnstone translation)
(Robinson CGLP translation)
Codex VIII
Zostrianos
(Turner Scholar's translation)
(Sieber CGLP translation)
The Letter of Peter to Philip
(Meyer translation)
(Wisse CGLP translation)
Codex IX
Melchizedek
(Giversen & Pearson CGLP translation)
The Thought of Norea
(Giversen & Pearson CGLP translation)
The Testimony of Truth
(Giversen & Pearson CGLP translation)
Codex X
Marsanes
(Turner Scholar's translation)
(Pearson CGLP translation)
Codex XI
The Interpretation of Knowledge
(Turner CGLP translation)
A Valentinian Exposition
2a. On the Anointing
2b. On the Baptism A
2c. On the Baptism B
2d. On the Eucharist A
2e. On the Eucharist B
Allogenes – The Foreigner
(Turner Annonated translation)
(Turner & Wintermute CGLP translation)
Hypsiphrone
(Turner CGLP translation)
Codex XII
The Sentences of Sextus
(Wisse CGLP translation)
The Gospel of Truth*
(Barnstone & Meyer translation)
(Grant translation)
(Attridge & MacRae CGLP translation)
Fragments (translation not provided here)
Codex XIII
Trimorphic Protennoia – Three Forms of First Thought
(Barnstone translation)
(Turner GCLP translation)
(Turner Annotated translation)
On the Origin of the World*
(Barnstone & Meyer translation)
(Bethge & Layton CGLP translation)
http://gnosis.org/naghamm/nhlcodex.html

It looks like a real Christian library.  Indeed it is mysterious why Egyptians and the Arabs needed Islam.


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Act 12:18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
Act 12:19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

"I will put my spirit upon him" - A Basic Version of the Human History

Summer Rainy Protest against the Government in Tokyo

A Basic Version of the Human History

Suppose that God created the time and space and the universe, including all the atoms and the elementary particles in addition to light and gravity.

But for what?  The answer can be seen as stars were born in the universe and the earth was shaped around the sun.  On the planet earth there emerged living things.  But God is spirit not a material entity or simple living matter.  So, He gave spirit to human beings.  Then, God observed how they behaved.

Betraying the expectations of God, not all the tribes of human beings were afraid of God enough to satisfy Him.  So, God chose one tribe later called Hebrews, since He found a remarkable faithful man later called Abraham.

Then, God observed how Hebrews and descendants of Abraham behaved.

Betraying the expectations of God, not all the Hebrews were afraid of God enough to satisfy Him.  So, God chose Jesus of Nazareth, since He found him more pious than John the Baptist who was the true successor in spirit of Abraham.

Then, God put his spirit into Jesus of Nazareth who then became the Son of God (and further unified with God after his death or his resurrection.)

But still God observed how mankind would behave after they were taught by Christ Jesus.

Betraying the expectations of God, not all the members of mankind turned to God.  What was worse, mankind killed Christ Jesus.  So, He gave up an idea to use Judaists as a tool to make the teaching of Christ Jesus prevail in the world.  God had Christ Jesus choose Saul later called Paul for this purpose.  And, Christianity was established.

Then, God observed how Christianity would save mankind.

Betraying the expectations of God, Christianity could not be instilled to the Arabs, the Persians, and so on.  So, God chose an Arab as the founder of Islam.  But, the words of God given to the Arab man through an angel reflected His discomfort to mankind.  He requested Muslims to pray to Him in a rigorous manner to show their awe of God who was so displeased with mankind.

Even today, Muslims pray to God in a rigorous way.  But, their manner of practicing the religion should not be only unique to Muslims.  It must be also applied to Judaists and Christians, since it reflects displeasure of God with all the mankind.  Rather, we must think Muslims are performing such rigorous religious rituals on behalf of Judaists, Christians, and all the other members of mankind.

The most basic version of the human history must be written with focus on the relationship between the Creator God and humankind.  And the key to understanding the relationship is religion.

Otherwise, any textbooks without following this principle must be like a series of renditions, say, of a movie like Star Wars.
  




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Mat 12:16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
Mat 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

"to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" - The US to Become Religiously Neutral

Tokyo

The US to Become Religiously Neutral

Whenever I see the world map, I cannot help but wonder how great God is to set Palestine or Jerusalem at the connecting point of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

North and northwest over the Mediterranean and the Black Sea is Europe: immediately surrounding Palestine is the Islamic world; south beyond the Sahara is the domain of pure Africans; and east beyond the Himalayas is the domain of pure Asians.  Indeed, Palestine or Jerusalem situated at the center of the world.

That is why Abraham had to move to Palestine from southern Iraq and Christ Jesus had to carry out His mission around Jerusalem: the center of the world.

Today, Judaists live in Palestine and around Jerusalem.  And, in regions immediately surrounding Palestine and Jerusalem live Muslims.  And in the west regions surrounding the Islamic world Christians live.  Further, in the east regions surrounding the Islamic world Hindus and Buddhists live.  It is a partly concentric configuration.

However there is one big abundant element in the world: the American Continent.  The American Continent breaks the said configuration of regions around Palestine or Jerusalem.  How should we situate the American Continent in the holy geographical configuration?

The said holy geographical configuration had been effective till the US came to play a major role in the world in the late 20th century.  In other word, the world configuration or the world history had decisively changed when the US became the superpower in the world in the late 20th century.  And this paradigm shift was completed in 2000.  But as soon as the world entered the new era in 2001, the 9/11 Terror occurred.  It symbolized holy demand for the US to face Islam in earnest.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-religion-map.htm

The American Continent was first developed by Christians.  Then came Judaists in the large number.  Now, God seems to want Muslims move to the American Continent.  The challenges of AlQaeda and IS against the US must symbolize it.  The 21st century must be a century when Muslims should expand to the American Continent.  Afterward, Hindus and Buddhists must expand to the Continent.  Then eventually, the US will become religiously neutral.

So, we will probably see a Juadaist President of the US, a Muslim President of the US, and then a Hindu or Buddhist President of the US.  It is because the holly geographic configuration should be realized in the world with the US becoming religiously neutral..




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Mar 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

" he spake a parable unto them" - Our Fates in the Hand of God

Tokyo

Our Fates in the Hand of God

Knowledge is power and one of the great sources of success and wealth.  But it does not apply to salvation of human souls.  This is one of underlying doctrines of Christ Jesus.

No matter how much you have learnt about culture, science and religion, your soul cannot be saved.  You have to be first righteous.  You have to love God and your neighbors.  And then your soul can be saved.

Also, how much you are materially abundant does not mean you are blessed by God.  Advanced products, goods, and riches are what people want.  But the more you have riches, the less you have faith in God.

But the material civilization today is supported by a great amount of advanced knowledge in culture, science and technology, making people's living comfort and convenient.  But the more the material civilization becomes advanced, the less people become righteous and pious.  For example, the modern medical science saves millions of lives but the modern weapons kill also millions of people.

Therefore, along with development of civilization, people come to think about God less and less.  People become indifferent about the teaching of Christ Jesus.  And furthermore, people turn to be anti-Christ.

Knowledgeable and rich people surrounded by affluent riches and advanced products while living in a high-tech environment would find no need to pray to God for anything.  They get everything by use of money they want.  At least they think so.  And those assets have been obtained without their relying on God.  They have no reasons for praying to God.

But, no matter how rich a man is today, he cannot control his fate.  It is God that decides his fate.  No matter how rich one becomes, he cannot set his own fate about how and when he dies.

And, the whole mankind looks like a rich man depicted in the Bible.  One night when he is reflecting how rich and lucky he is without minding any poor and unhappy people, God has decided to take his life soon.  When mankind is reflecting how advanced his civilization is, God might decide to put an end to the history of mankind.

While the world is facing problems such as global warming and global terror, mankind do not become so arrogant.  But when these problems are solved, mankind should become so self-contended, reflecting how great they are to solve those fatal problems by use of their intellect without relying on God.  Mankind might come to think that they don't need faith in God.  It can be a critical moment that God decides put an end to the history of mankind.

Therefore, we have to solve such problems as global warming and global terror without relying on our intellect but by relying on our faith in God.

Problems that have resulted from advancement of material civilization cannot be solved by intelligence that has promoted the material civilization.  Only faith in God can, since the fate of every civilized person is in the hand of God.




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Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

"It is his angel" - Reading of Millions of Religious Books

Tokyo

Reading of Millions of Religious Books

His disciples left Christ Jesus and ran away when Roman soldiers and temple priests came to arrest Him.

It means that even Peter ran away leaving Christ Jesus alone in the hand of enemies.  That must be why Christ Jesus chose Paul, but not Peter, as His successor in the holy missions to gentiles.  Nonetheless, St. Peter is still regarded as the first Pope of the Vatican.

But why were those disciples afraid so much?  They had been with the Son of God for months or a few years, but they were afraid of Roman soldiers and temple priests coming to arrest them at night.  Were they, including St. Peter, just cowards?  Did they just pretend to be followers of Christ Jesus?  Could not Christ Jesus imbue His disciples with true faith?  What was that farcical incident for?

Or had it been planned by Christ Jesus?  Beforehand, He had seen how little their faith had been, so that Christ Jesus had not instructed them to stay with Him when His enemies came to arrest him.  But why only such little faith could His disciples have after having spent time for months or a few years with Him, receiving direct teachings.

Those disciples must have thought that their Master was the Son of God or the Messiah, so that even Roman soldiers and temple priests could not came to attack Him.  They must have been pleased with the idea so much.  Therefore the appearance of the armed enemies at night must have been  a kind of thunderbolt out of the blue.  The disciples must not have been prepared for it at all.  That is why they just ran away.  But could this scenario be so possible?

However, after the Crucifixion, when Christ Jesus disappeared from the tomb and appeared to His disciples, they came to have strong faith in Christ Jesus.  And then, Christianity started to emerge.

In other word, no matter what teachings the disciples heard directly from Christ Jesus, it was no use for them.  For them to have unshaken faith in Christ Jesus, He had to be crucified and later resurrected.

It applies to people of today.  No matter how deep teachings and words they might learn through books or in schools or churches, their faith cannot be said to be so reliable and determined.  They have to also run away from Christ Jesus, who is the Son of God and the Messiah, and then see crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus to have true faith in Him.  But, there is no Christ Jesus living as a man around them.  How can it be realized?

One possible answer must be the Pope.  As the successor of St. Peter or the surrogate of Christ Jesus, each Pope must die on the cross and resurrect like Christ Jesus to make people have true faith.  This must be the true mission and duty of every Pope in the past.  But what Pope did it?
 
In other word, the fact that every Pope did not die on the cross and later resurrected in these 2000 years means that people have not had true faith yet.

People do not have true faith till they see the great miracle of Pope's death on the cross and later resurrection like Christ Jesus Himself.  Indeed, if armed enemies of a Pope had appeared to arrest him, every Christian must have run away in the past and even today.

Anyway it is a great miracle that makes one a true Christian but not reading of millions of religious books.





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Act 12:13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
Act 12:14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
Act 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

"two wings of a great eagle" - St. James and St. Paul

Tokyo

St. James and St. Paul

Christ Jesus had a brother called James.

But Christ Jesus called Saul to succeed Him in the mission to gentiles.  Nonetheless, James inherited the spirit of Christ Jesus, loving the poor and condemning the rich.

Jam 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Jam 2:6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
Jam 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

So, James understood that God chose the poor but not the rich.  And those who do not understand this truth despise the poor while the rich blaspheme against Christ Jesus.

According to James, the rich are enemies of God.

But Saul or Paul did not take this precipitous stance.

Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Those who fall into the category of sinful people Paul condemns are of course mostly rich people.  But if any rich men should think that they are not so bad as condemned by Paul, they have to accept the teaching of Paul.  But for them to accept the word of Paul, they have to abandon their riches even gradually or step by step.  And, eventually they will be poor.

So, Christ Jesus intended to directly accuse the rich, as seen in the word of James, but also give a chance to the rich for repenting and becoming poor to be forgiven by God, as seen in the word of Paul.

In deed, while the world is controlled by rich men and sinful men, there is no bright future for mankind.  Without rich men in the West controlling the global economy and sinful men in the Islamic world supporting terror, the future of the world will be bright without dangerous global warming and terrorism.




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Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

"he had spoken the parable against them" - Globalization of Economy with Global Warming/Terror

Tokyo

Globalization of Economy with Global Warming/Terror

The  globalization of economy does not regard differences in culture, traditions, history, and religions of different nations as important.

It has spread even to Russia, China, India, and the Islamic nations.  Power of money really covers all over the world.  Wealth produced by business activities connected worldwide is appreciated all over the world.  Indeed, it was expected that the world would turn to one commercial market.  And in the global market, the Anglo-Saxon way of business would prevail, many experts predicted.

However, it looks unlikely that all the nations in the world will be aligned along this global commercialism in order.

First of all, though rich men in the world will share the common view on benefits of the globalization of economy, poor men will not.  And, without poor men, there are no bases for rich men.  This globalization of economy is not intended to make all the people rich.  It rather widens the gap between the rich and the poor in any countries.  For each government to control a nation, it has to respond to demands of its majority, namely poor voters.  And, conditions where poor people are living are different among nations.  So, all the governments cannot take the same policy and stance.  In any countries, some poor people try to be rich or protect their interest by following nationalism.  Accordingly, the globalization of economy does not accelerate unification of all the nations in the world.

The global warming issue is related to this globalization of economy.  Due to globalization of economy, China, India, and the like have seen their industrialization being promoted rapidly.  Rich people in these countries would rather accept lowering economic activities to reduce CO2 emission.  But poor people in these countries, who have political influence, need more economic activities to sustain their living standards.  So, there cannot be a concerted effort by all the nations to cope with the global warming.

The global terror is also related to this globalization of economy.  Muslims who cannot join this mainstream of the global economy would rather find a way of realizing their prosperity by controlling isolated regions by weapons.  Muslims that do not belong to Islamic governments accepted by the West have no way to be rich.  They cannot be part of the global network of globalized economy.  The only way for them to be rich is to control war-torn regions with violence.  In deed, no IS terror can prevail in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Islamic nations that are well linked to the globalized economy network.

So, the globalization of economy that has been accelerated along with development of computers, the Internet, and information technologies since 1990s looks like resulting in more problems than peace in the world.  It is because the globalization of economy is not intended to make all the people in the world rich but make rich people in each country richer.

As long as this globalization of economy continues, we cannot get rid of global problems such as global warming and global terror.





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Mar 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Mar 12:13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

"shall be denied before the angels of God" - The Money-Contaminated Western Civilization

Tokyo

The Money-Contaminated Western Civilization

The concept of God is so overwhelming.  But money is also a  big concern for everybody.

There are two things that appeal to any man in the world: God and money.  If he is a European, an African, an Asian, or a native American, he can understand what God and money mean.

But the society is built on the economy.  How people can earn money is the core of the human society.  Therefore, there are always two types of people in the human society: the rich and the poor.  As long as the society is built based on the economy, it is inevitable that some people get more money than others.

To satisfy one's desire, a man needs much money.  To gain big money in a society means to take money from others.  Any professions are means to take money from others.  Businesses manufacture and sell goods or offer services in exchange of money.   Corporate workers are taking money from consumers.  Even a government takes money from people through a taxation system.  Public servants are thus taking money from taxpayers.

To earn money, people use their brains.  Or to take money from others or the general public, people exercise wisdom.  As a consequence, new products and services are invented.  Science and technology are developed.  Industries are operated.  But all these human activities are measure by the amount of money, since the human society is built around money that makes people satisfy their desire.

But, the society can be built on the faith in God.  Every human activity, including manufacturing and selling goods or offering services can be centered around God.  Put extremely, economic activities can be all made no to satisfy human desire but to promote faith in God.

Money will not be used in the society that is directed to God.  The economy can be controlled according to the teaching of God.  There will be no rich men and thus no poor men.  Science and technology will be developed to realize the Kingdom of God but not to satisfy human desire.

In this context, the Western Civilization is oriented to money but not to God.  So, there is no wonder that some Muslims hate the European culture, though it does not mean that they are true followers of God.

God or money, this question is more crucial and significant than the hate of some Muslims for the money-contaminated Western Civilization.  But, if you hate the money-contaminated Western Civilization, you may want those extreme Muslims to find a true way to God instead of resorting to terror.  But if you don't hate  the money-contaminated Western Civilization, you may just want Western military forces to wipe away those extreme Muslims.

Anyway, in the future, there will be time when mankind stop using money.  But, it might not necessarily mean that mankind will start to use a symbol of faith in God in lieu of money.  Something worse than money might be used.

There are many scenes in the Bible where money is depicted.  Christ Jesus lived and acted in the society where money had been already circulated.  One of reasons for God to have sent Christ Jesus to this world must have been to stop the power of money, since even Judas Iscariot was paid silver coins.    









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Luk 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luk 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Luk 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

"the poor always ye have with you" - Poor Believers Prove Existence of God

Tokyo

Poor Believers Prove Existence of God

If you become rich, you will have no need for praying to God so that God would protect you.

You have money to protect yourselves.  Moreover, with money you may even have an influence on the society.  You can have rich friends in the political community.

But if you are poor and don't have many resources to protect you, you need God.  If you are Judaists, Christians, or Muslims, as long as you are poor, you need God in real.

So, God is for the poor and God is expected to save the poor.  It means if you want to know what God is, you have to be poor.  No matter what rich scholars think about God, their understanding of God cannot be deeper than that of the poor.

(If evil men temporarily become poor, they would sell their souls to Satan to be somewhat rich by using dark power of Satan.  So, a poor man here means a man who cannot sell his soul to Satan no matter how poor he becomes.)

In this context, the common object of religions is to remind the existence of God of believers.  Any religions are existent for this purpose.  Because poor Christians should ask God to save them; poor Muslims would ask God to save them, and poor Judaists would ask God to save them.  And, before God, it doesn't matter whether a poor man is a Christian, a Judaist, or a Muslim.  He would simply ask God to save him because he believes in God but not because he is a Christian, a Judaist, or a Muslim.

Conversely, if poor people stop praying to God and believing in God, any religions would be terminated.  No matter how rich Christians, rich Judaists, or rich Muslims practice their religions, if a majority of poor Christians, poor Judaists, or poor Muslims stop praying to God and believing in God, such religion cannot be sustained.

But the fact is that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have survived for more than 2000 years or so.  It tells that so many poor people have prayed to God and carried faith in God without interruption.  And, those poor people have asked God to save them.  If God had not responded to their prayer, poor Judaists, poor Christians, and poor Muslims should have abandoned their religions.

So, the fact that those religions still today exist and poor believers still pray to God through their religions tells that God exists and helps the poor.

However, like in the Holocaust, innocent believers died in various tragedies.  Recently, more than 100 people were killed in Paris by terrorists.  You might conclude that these tragic incidents tell that God does not exit and does not help believers.

But still poor people must think that though they don't know why God had not save those victims, all they have to do is still ask God to save them.

Indeed, God is the Creator of human beings.  He gives life to a man at His will and take away life from him at His will.  God is the master of mankind, so that He can treat any man according to His plan.  But still God is merciful and wants the poor to ask help from Him.

From the beginning, it is so mysterious why God created mankind on the earth in the universe.

Only through the relationship between a poor man and God, the answer to the mystery may be revealed.



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Joh 12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
Joh 12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Joh 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

"ye would not have condemned the guiltless" - Rich Men Do Not Believe in God

A Tokyo Railway Station

Rich Men Do Not Believe in God

How can a man become rich?

A man can become rich by neglecting the poor.

If he has love to his poor neighbors, he will give money to them.  And there are always many poor neighbors to a rich man.  Therefore, the rich man has to finally become poor by giving all his money to his poor neighbors.

Or, if a rich man finds that while he is enjoying luxurious things, his poor neighbors are just living poor, clothing themselves poor, and eating poor and he thinks it is so sinful, he will give his money to the poor neighbors.  As a result, the rich man will be poor, too.

For rich men to behave this way, they have to be true follows of God.

You can be rich, but you have to help the poor with all of your money.  This is the teaching of God.

But, why does the God mind money?  Why does the God love the poor instead of the rich?

Put simply, without accepting any evil, you cannot earn one dollar in this world.  Economy is based on human desire.  To fulfill their desire, men would commit any crimes.  If you follow the word of God 100% and live so righteously, you cannot earn even a dollar in the world.  Because God requests every man to be righteous without doing any evil deeds.  Money is the source of every evil.  That is why God does not love rich men with big money.

Earning big money means doing big evil in this world.  Even earning a little money means doing a little evil in this world.  People try to earn money to become happy.  But God says to give money to poor neighbors to make them as happy as you are.  God implies that what people should do is not earn money to make themselves happy but make poor neighbors as happy as they are.

God says that men have to live for the purpose of making poor neighbors happy.  But if you earn money to make yourself rich and happy, your poor neighbors will become less happier.  That is why you must not make money for your happiness.  It means that if you follow the word of God, you cannot become rich.  By only neglecting the word of God, you can be rich.

But there are many people who do not think that God is requesting them to give all the money they have to the poor.  That is why they can continue to be rich.

Men must admit that God created human souls.  God is requesting men to give money to the poor so as to make them as happy as they are.  God forbids men to earn money and become rich and happy, because making money means sacrificing the poor.

The point at issue is that no schools in this world teach this God word.  It tells that the world is under control of Satan.  Satan loves to see rich men neglecting the poor.  Unless mankind fights Satan, the world will be full of evils.

Finally, being rich is a sin before God.  So, rich men do not believe in God.




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Mat 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

"again he sent another; and him they killed" - Jun Eto and Soseki Natsume

Tokyo

Jun Eto and Soseki Natsume

Jun Eto (1932-1999), a notable critic, had a cousin who was the mother of the current crown princess of Japan,

His wife died of cancer one year before his death.  Or her death might have shortened his life, since he was so much disappointed by her death.  After his wife's death, he wrote an essay about her illness and death.  It sold well remarkably.  In the essay, he wrote that he almost lost his will of living.

Eto's wife showed symptom of cancer just a year before her death.  So, their life changed so suddenly.  Eto passionately took care of her while writing some literature works and teaching in a university in Tokyo.  But he did not tell her that her illness was cancer.  After her death, months of hard life of providing care for his wife, though hospitalized, Eto himself got seriously ill.  But illness did not kill him; he committed a suicide.

Jun Eto is famous for his critical essays about the great novelist Soseki Natsume (1867-1916).  Soseki is the most respected author as a groundbreaking novelist who contributed to establishment of modern Japanese literature.

After the fall of the samurai regime in 1868, the Japanese society underwent a great paradigm change along with modernization and Westernization.  Soseki Natsume presented a new style and a mind set for new Japanese literature suitable for the era.  Most of Japanese authors today are virtually successors of their forerunners most of whom were directly or indirectly influenced by disciples of Soseki Natsume.

Soseki Natsume was dispatched to England by the Imperial Government of Japan for study of English literature between 1900 and 1903.  After returning to Japan he taught English literature in the Imperial University for Tokyo.  However, in 1907, he quit the teaching job to be a professional novelist.  Roughly speaking, Soseki was an active write in the era between the Japanese-Russo war and the First World War when Japan was successfully carrying out its Industrial Revolution to be admitted as the the rising power in Asia by the Western countries.

Modern individualism in the Japanese literature was one of big themes for Soseki Natusme.  Facing the global influence of the Western culture, Japanese had to adopt a new way of dealing with themselves.  Conventional mind sets could not cope with the great influx of the Western culture.  Though power of traditions and customs unique to the Japanese culture still worked strongly in all the local communities in Japan, modern Japanese people working and living in Westernized industries, cities, and environments with interfaces open to the world came to have different mindsets than those developed in the country whose door had been closed for 250 years before the middle of the 19th century.  Soseki Natsume gave a kind of framework to express those Japanese for themselves.

For example, in the samurai era of Japan, it was unthinkable that a husband loved his wife so much that he became seriously ill and committed a suicide after her death like Jun Eto,  In this context, Jun Eto embodied an influence of his study target Soseki Natsume: modern individualism in Japan.

Jun Eto went to the Princeton University for study supported by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1962.  And then, he taught the history of the Japanese literature in the University till he left the US in 1964.  But he was accompanied by his wife.  They lived together in the US.  And when they returned to Japan, they traveled Europe.

In a train on a railway line in Europe, the Etos got acquainted with an old married couple.  The old husband said to Jun Eto, "Ordinary people got out for world travel after retirement.  But, you, a young couple, are doing it while you are still young.  It is great."

Though Soseki Natsume went abroad only once for England, Jun Eto and his wife traveled the world together often after 1964 till their death in 1998 and 1999.  Eto was still writing a new book about Soseki Natsume when he died.

    






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Mar 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Mar 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
Mar 12:7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.
Mar 12:8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
Mar 12:9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.

"Have ye not read what David did" - Relationship between Mankind and God

Tokyo

Relationship between Mankind and God

The most unique point about Christ Jesus is that He declared that He was sent by God to this world.

He also called God the Father.  This has been the strongest relationship between a man and God in the human history.  In this context, Christ Jesus is above Abraham, Moses, and any other holy prophets.

If we believe His words, we should respect all of His words as so holy.  But if you cannot believe that Christ Jesus was sent by God to the world 2000 years ago, you would not be able to understand the meaning of His words.

Christianity rests on this conviction.  It means that there is God and He sent Christ Jesus to this world to save it 2000 years ago.  It is so simple, but it is beyond our commonsense.

Most of people would think that there might be God who created this universe.  But there must be many who cannot believe that He gave special spirits to mankind so that mankind can have special intellectual power and spiritual sense.  Those people think that their minds have nothing to do with God.  They may even think that they happen to have the capacity of their minds so that they are free in using their minds in whatever way.  But if you admit that God gave capacity of human minds, you have to feel so obliged to use your minds in line with the will of God.

So, if you believe that Christ Jesus was sent by God to this world 2000 years ago, you may think that it must be for turning human minds to God.

But you cannot see God like the sun.  You may think how you can believe in God if God exists as He cannot be seen and felt around you or anywhere in this world and furthermore as He has nothing to do with your mind work.

However, the Bible says that what is seen is made of what cannot be seen.  Indeed, a man is made of his mind and soul that cannot be seen, though his physical body can be seen.  For example, a life of a man is essentially made of love of whatever sort.  Maybe it is love for God or for material wealth, but you need love to live as human beings.

Unless Christ Jesus had come to this world 2000 years ago, mankind must have continued to live without enough love for God.  Christ Jesus came to this world to emphasize that God loves each man but requests him to love God in return.  But He also gave a notice that the Kingdom of God cannot be seen.

No matter what advanced scientific equipment we might use, we cannot see God.  Only we have to realize His presence through our faith.

Anyway, the relationship between God and each man is the most important issue for him.  And, if you don't put the highest priority on this relationship, you will surely lose the absolute framework of your life.  You may commit any crimes and sins if you are so attempted for worldly reasons.

Even to solve the global terrorism and the global warming, we have to start our faith in God and to consider our relationship with God.



  





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Mat 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Mat 12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?