prayers for Japan please

[Hoankan]

I don't know if anyone here knows, but abortion has always been high here in Japan and that is a great tragedy. Over the past few years it has taken a turn towards something even darker as seen incidents of infanticide (http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080122p2a00m0na001000c.html) start and it's getting worse and worse. I know we usually pray for people, but the nation of Japan as a whole needs prayer that their society can see the value of children again.

[SeraphimSarov]

Prayers.

[Thekla]

prayers !

[Matrona]

:crosseo:

[jckstraw72]

Shu awaremeyo!

[ThePosterFormerlyKnownAs]

Lord have mercy. :crosseo:

[Lukaris]

:crosseo:

[ThePilgrim]

*confused by the original post*

Why is it great that there have always been a lot of abortions there?

Grace and peace,
John

[Chocolatesa]

I think he forgot a word and meant to write "a great sadness/misery" etc.

:crosseo:

[ThePilgrim]

Oh, okay! I misread it originally and didn't see the word "a", so I thought it just said, "and that is great," and so I was really confused.

*prayers for Japan*

[rainbowbright]

I'm sure you would know this but my husband, who's an expert on Japan, says that the country has such a problem with infanticide and abortion because it hasn't been influenced by Christianity even though it does exist there, it's still mainly buddhist and shinto. One of my former best friends who is Japanese had an abortion because her boyfriend's parents, who were American, didn't want a grandchild. She was really sad about it and I just didn't know what to tell her- I guess I was stunned.
Praying.

[Brushstroke]

Lord have mercy. :crosseo:

[Hoankan]

Oh, okay! I misread it originally and didn't see the word "a", so I thought it just said, "and that is great," and so I was really confused.

*prayers for Japan*
YIKES! Talk about a big error on my part. Forgive me.

[Hoankan]

I'm sure you would know this but my husband, who's an expert on Japan, says that the country has such a problem with infanticide and abortion because it hasn't been influenced by Christianity even though it does exist there, it's still mainly buddhist and shinto. One of my former best friends who is Japanese had an abortion because her boyfriend's parents, who were American, didn't want a grandchild. She was really sad about it and I just didn't know what to tell her- I guess I was stunned.
Praying.

I think this is a simplification. I really do think that because Christianity isn't that prevalent is one point. But I have to say that there is a lot more going on here. I don't know if your husband has a lot of on the ground day to day experience, but several things strike me.

First, even Christian people here do abortions (as far as I know, not the Orthodox, but many protestant groups do). There's a great shame still in being unwed and having a child so it's either shotgun wedding or abort. Scary thing is that some women even get pregnant to get married and if their plans fall through, then they just abort.

Second, there is a very strong emphasis on consumerism. Buy buy buy might be the keyword for Japan anymore. There are many adults 30+ still living with their parents and they spend all their money on traveling, expensive designer label stuff and what not. And anything that can take away from this is in many cases looked down upon.

Third, sex is seen as a type of entertainment. The feeling dominates their talks, so there is high levels of sex without consideration of the consequences. High pregnancy and VDs are the end result of this.

Last is that many younger Japanese have become extremely selfish in their attitudes. It is what they want that matters and anything that comes in the way of that is dealt with immediately. There are a lot of women out there that get to 29 or so and want to get married, now! They will do anything they can to get married. A baby is welcome then. Before that, they want their freedom and so they'll just abort.

[Kirkhaven]

Lord have mercy. :crossrc:

I agree that it is a tragedy. While Japan is not a heavily influenced Christian nation, I think you may have hit on a key component which explains why abortion is so high there; CONSUMERISM. This helps explain why there have been so many abortions within the United States even though it has been highly influenced by Christianity. By the way, today marks the 35th anniversary of Roe Vs. Wade, the historic and tragic supreme court decision legalizing abortion in the United States.