Recently, a global ranking was published showing the percentage of people who believe in God or some supreme divine entity in various countries. Japan came in last place, generating a wave of reactions among Japanese internet users. This fact has sparked debates about the nature of faith and spirituality in Japanese society.

Japan is known for its secular approach to daily life, where religion does not play a predominant role. Although Shintoism and Buddhism are integral parts of Japanese culture, many Japanese do not practice these religions devoutly or view them in terms of faith in a supreme deity. Scientific and rationalist education, together with the influence of modernization and economic development, contributed to a more secular outlook in society.

Japan's history has also influenced its approach to religion.. After World War II, Japan's Constitution promoted the separation of state and religion, resulting in a society that places greater value on individual freedom and critical thinking. Furthermore, Japanese society tends to focus on material well-being and social harmony, leaving less room for devotional religious practices.

Responses from Japanese netizens reflect a variety of opinions and attitudes toward religion and spirituality:

• «Do 4% of Japanese people believe in God? That surprises me, it seems quite».
• «God does not exist. He is not outside of the human being, but within it. God observes the human being from within, records all their actions, and guides them to their appropriate end. God gives death to all equally, but whether it is a blessing or a terrible end is decided by the God within you.».
• «I have a feeling that there is a higher entity that somehow manages this world».
• «Believing in something that doesn't exist is a form of brainwashing, so it's absurd.».
• «Although it is not known whether God exists or not, seeing the unpleasant lives of the materialistic elders in Japan who believe in neither God nor Buddha, it seems that it might make sense that those who believe are saved.».
• «Even if a higher entity existed, it would not be God or Buddha.».
• «Since I don't trust myself, I can't believe in anything in this world.».
• «Believing in God is proof that you are a primitive with a low level of intelligence.».
• «If we consider collective consciousness as God, it's not strange that it might exist. It might have some kind of power. If we think of God as existing only for humans and not for animals or insects, this might make more sense.».
• «If God existed, it would be better for the planet if he destroyed humanity.».
• «God is a stranger. That's what they say in the exaggerated urban theories».
• «Believing in things like money or AI is also something similar, right?».
• «I'll tell you the truth: God doesn't exist, there's no afterlife, and the probability of intelligent beings more advanced than humans existing at the same time is less than 0.1%. This is reality.».

Source: Yaraon!