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Christianity Etc › Re: Most Europeans Are Israelities. by blueAgent(op): 11:36pm On Jan 17, 2017
True. like my pastor used to say those in darkness can easily see those in the light. then the reverse.

You know about Zoroasterianism was a Medo-Persian Order of Zoroaster. A cult of Astrology.
Nice one.

Is like you are one of those few truth seekers who understand what is going.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 11:31pm On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
God allowed the evil that befell Adam take place coz of Love, even tho he saw it from the start
..no be so?
Search nairaland for a thread on freewill..I contributed actively in dat thread alongside others..
You'll learn something new..
DAts if u're ready to do away with bigotry
You are too confused to educate anyone.Love without freewill is not love.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 11:28pm On Jan 17, 2017
Lennycool:
Buddhism is an atheistic religion since it has no God, but you can worship gods if you please to, it isn't against that, you can even worship Yahweh and be Buddhist.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201606020010.html
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 11:26pm On Jan 17, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
.

tell me the names of the "Marine god(s)" all Buddhists worship
No wonder you are an Athiests. it is common for Athiests to be Naive and uninformed.

When you are matured enough to read books of the order. i can expose you to more light.for now click and read.

You cannot see and understand Spiritual things as a learner,

What we can see and understand while sleeping or playing, you cannot see or understand ,not even in two life times.

https://www.worthynews.com/1712-bush-worship-at-shinto-temple-troubles-christians-in-japan-and-u-s


www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/shintoism.htm
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 11:17pm On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
but in a case where it is not?

Out of love baa?
Give examples
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 11:14pm On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
another suicidal expression yet again..u really need to sharpen ur debating skills..

An individual gets into a contest with a motive to impress either the spectators or the opponent.

But, u said God was not trying to impress anyone in job's case, that God doesn't impress or had in mind to do dat.
Nau, u acknowledge it was a contest?
So why do u think God got into a contest with an idiot like Satan, if not to impress?
Someone he created himself.

U cnt even define ur position bro..lolz
I keep swaying u back and forth
I laugh at your ingnorance. you think playing with words will make you win a debate?

I asked you a question and you craftly refused to answer me.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 8:12pm On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
Satan rulership of this world is what we see today in form of wars,Chaos,famine,corruption,genocide,earthquakes,injustice,poverty,drought,disasters,racism,tribalism,rape,incest,hurricanes,e.t.c

It was imperative for God to allow all this to happen inorder to unreval the true nature of Satan and to show the entire Universe what the Universe will be like,when things are done outside his divinelaws,

------------------

In Conclusion
God has allowed all this to happen out of his loving and just nature,so that all his creations can appreciate his gift of freewill.
--------------


All above are in ur very own words. Culled from ur oxymoronic epistle..

You're one easy man to debate with I must confess..
How is it contractdictory. so becos of love, you expect God will allow Adam and his descendants to go unpunished? is like you mistake God for Mortal Man.
Christianity Etc › Re: Most Europeans Are Israelities. by blueAgent(op): 6:37am On Jan 17, 2017
analice107:
This could the reason Muslims are fighting very hard to take over Europe thinking with that, they would've taken over what belongs to the Jews.

The Problem with the Muslims is that, they had a prophet without any viable prophecy, so they don't give heed to them.


PLS SOMEONE SHD PLS TELL THE MUSLIMS TO STOP THEMSELVES BEFORE THEY DESTROY THEMSELVES.
The muslims are brought in by Elites Satanic worshippers who control this world and there plan is to fustrate those Europeans. those Satanists understand Bible prophecies more than even christains.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:29am On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
U liken a debate to a torturous experience of leprosy and almost loss of life?
U're saying now that God and devil had a contest of loyalty of servants and Job was the representative?
Ur analogies are weak plz.
I,however, recall u saying God can speak for himself..
If I'm to take ur analogy literally, So why is job involved as a Debate representative between Himself and Satan.
And if it was not a contest. kindly explain to us what transpired in Job 1.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:25am On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
proclaiming the word of God erroneously with irreconcilable and contradictory expressions in your statements can never be what God sent u. Juz coz u keep rendering a barrage of bible verses with ur proclamations doesn't make u Godsent or spirit filled.
always try to quote appropriate bible verses strictly or atleast loosely in the context of what u assert. How does this apply to ur debate of your allusion of God's permission of evil upon us to Love?
This verse u quoted is meant to defend urself against adversaries who know not Christ in u. Seein you undergo difficult situations, yet with hope.

Peter instructs us to be ready to answer the question our life should inspire: "How can you be so hopeful in such difficult circumstances?"

Peter anticipates people will become curious. Hopefulness and joy are starkly different from the normal human response to suffering. So much so that people will be eager to understand it. What will we say when they ask? We must be prepared to give our defense, to make the case for faith in Christ. We need to reject the cultural pressure to keep our beliefs to ourselves. Instead, believers should openly share the good news of redemption through faith in Christ.


This verse u rendered was grossly misapplied

good, this applies to the Case of Job suffering for well doing as recorded in the bible. This means u've explicitly acknowledged suffering in christendom. Now, you shifted to the will of God being so, no longer, God allowing it out of love and just nature as u put earlier. I bet You'll attempt to entwine both, saying God's will is love always.
Yea, u right, this means it's his wish to do so if countless number of children and mothers suffer for nothing, worldwide. No food to eat or places to live. Some even die In their situation. Humanity(irrespective of their religion factions or belief system) do d best they can to help this ppl suffering for either well-doing or evil-doing which nobody but God knws, as far as we'd like to bliv it's his will.
But why da heck will u allude this totally to God's love and Just nature? This is pure fanatic Christianity.
U find it easy to spill these Ignorant phrases probably coz u find urself In a better standard of life compared to those undergoing the real hellish circumstances of life that u use as basis for ur faith.

enhancement can only apply to a preexisting entity. How bou someone who doesn't even knw the Christian faith, struggling to survive, children that have known suffering all their lives, ppl who wake up not knowing if they'll live thru dat day. I guess their inexplicable suffering is to enhance a faith that wasn't there in d first place?
I guess u've lived all ur life in d corners of a church. You don't read news, goto UNICEF, WHO, USAID websites and see suffering, then you'll fink well before u brag in ur thankful circumstances. There's nothing as honorable as when a christian learns to bridle their tongue whenever necessary. You must fink u're now a bible scholar to try to attempt answers to questions humanity have been waiting on God to answer Convincingly for countless centuries.
Let God be God, and do ur job of serving him in purity and truth, dont attempt to bring taint to his name with ur fanatism

Even d best of preachers do their possible best to steer off of the most controversial debate ever in christendom
The concept of Good and Evil with respect to God's will.
It'll forever be an unfinished business.
you agree once again that God will cause grief and later av compassion due to love?
If love is what God uses to end the grief he may afflict us with out of his will. What then prompts God to cause the grief in the first place. Love too I presume as u've said in all ur opening article uh?
Grief can be punishment for ones sin.
where did i write that all sufferings are becos of God's love or trial?
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:19am On Jan 17, 2017
kullozone:
How can such write up convince anyonehuh
Infact, you only exposed your god's selfishness and wickedness... Haba! Where do we even start from now?
Religion has ruined planet earth, I'm going to mars cheesy
Be specific where is God's selfishness in the article? are we supposed to accept Bible 's narrative about what happened or are we to abandon them and guess ours.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:15am On Jan 17, 2017
Lady39:
Hi,
Followers of Christ have emotions just as well as anyone else. It's the ability to recognize the emotional flaw, acknowledge it & pray for Christ to permanently uproot it out of one's life. Things happen...We have not attained perfection just yet. Please don't use the OP's moment of possible frustration with u as a way to destroy his character or dismiss this thread.
I was never frustrated. i wrote what i believe 100%.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:14am On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
same thing a christian brother told him but won't listen. The type that brings ignominy to the name of God nd Christian-fold.
Ingnorant seems to be Blissful to you.
You can read the article and point out things that are contracdictions or not supported by a Bible verse.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:10am On Jan 17, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
its you that needs to read, rituals don't mean they worship a god

for example, tell me the god(s) Buddhists worship
Did you read the definition of religeon? Buddhists pratice polytheism. they worship marine gods.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:09am On Jan 17, 2017
0ubenji:
good..now I'm bringing out the real man behind the ignorant sermon cool
The problem is you don't even understand yourself. when you are able to identify is from was then i will take you serious.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 10:12pm On Jan 15, 2017
0ubenji:
proclaiming the word of God erroneously with irreconcilable and contradictory expressions in your statements can never be what God sent u. Juz coz u keep rendering a barrage of bible verses with ur proclamations doesn't make u Godsent or spirit filled.
always try to quote appropriate bible verses strictly or atleast loosely in the context of what u assert. How does this apply to ur debate of your allusion of God's permission of evil upon us to Love?
This verse u quoted is meant to defend urself against adversaries who know not Christ in u. Seein you undergo difficult situations, yet with hope.

Peter instructs us to be ready to answer the question our life should inspire: "How can you be so hopeful in such difficult circumstances?"

Peter anticipates people will become curious. Hopefulness and joy are starkly different from the normal human response to suffering. So much so that people will be eager to understand it. What will we say when they ask? We must be prepared to give our defense, to make the case for faith in Christ. We need to reject the cultural pressure to keep our beliefs to ourselves. Instead, believers should openly share the good news of redemption through faith in Christ.


This verse u rendered was grossly misapplied

good, this applies to the Case of Job suffering for well doing as recorded in the bible. This means u've explicitly acknowledged suffering in christendom. Now, you shifted to the will of God being so, no longer, God allowing it out of love and just nature as u put earlier. I bet You'll attempt to entwine both, saying God's will is love always.
Yea, u right, this means it's his wish to do so if countless number of children and mothers suffer for nothing, worldwide. No food to eat or places to live. Some even die In their situation. Humanity(irrespective of their religion factions or belief system) do d best they can to help this ppl suffering for either well-doing or evil-doing which nobody but God knws, as far as we'd like to bliv it's his will.
But why da heck will u allude this totally to God's love and Just nature? This is pure fanatic Christianity.
U find it easy to spill these Ignorant phrases probably coz u find urself In a better standard of life compared to those undergoing the real hellish circumstances of life that u use as basis for ur faith.

enhancement can only apply to a preexisting entity. How bou someone who doesn't even knw the Christian faith, struggling to survive, children that have known suffering all their lives, ppl who wake up not knowing if they'll live thru dat day. I guess their inexplicable suffering is to enhance a faith that wasn't there in d first place?
I guess u've lived all ur life in d corners of a church. You don't read news, goto UNICEF, WHO, USAID websites and see suffering, then you'll fink well before u brag in ur thankful circumstances. There's nothing as honorable as when a christian learns to bridle their tongue whenever necessary. You must fink u're now a bible scholar to try to attempt answers to questions humanity have been waiting on God to answer Convincingly for countless centuries.
Let God be God, and do ur job of serving him in purity and truth, dont attempt to bring taint to his name with ur fanatism

Even d best of preachers do their possible best to steer off of the most controversial debate ever in christendom
The concept of Good and Evil with respect to God's will.
It'll forever be an unfinished business.
you agree once again that God will cause grief and later av compassion due to love?
If love is what God uses to end the grief he may afflict us with out of his will. What then prompts God to cause the grief in the first place. Love too I presume as u've said in all ur opening article uh?
You really sound like a kid. no wonder your points are baseless without direction no one. can make out your point or any sense in it.
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 10:05pm On Jan 15, 2017
0ubenji:
proclaiming the word of God erroneously with irreconcilable and contradictory expressions in your statements can never be what God sent u. Juz coz u keep rendering a barrage of bible verses with ur proclamations doesn't make u Godsent or spirit filled.
always try to quote appropriate bible verses strictly or atleast loosely in the context of what u assert. How does this apply to ur debate of your allusion of God's permission of evil upon us to Love?
This verse u quoted is meant to defend urself against adversaries who know not Christ in u. Seein you undergo difficult situations, yet with hope.

Peter instructs us to be ready to answer the question our life should inspire: "How can you be so hopeful in such difficult circumstances?"

Peter anticipates people will become curious. Hopefulness and joy are starkly different from the normal human response to suffering. So much so that people will be eager to understand it. What will we say when they ask? We must be prepared to give our defense, to make the case for faith in Christ. We need to reject the cultural pressure to keep our beliefs to ourselves. Instead, believers should openly share the good news of redemption through faith in Christ.


This verse u rendered was grossly misapplied

good, this applies to the Case of Job suffering for well doing as recorded in the bible. This means u've explicitly acknowledged suffering in christendom. Now, you shifted to the will of God being so, no longer, God allowing it out of love and just nature as u put earlier. I bet You'll attempt to entwine both, saying God's will is love always.
Yea, u right, this means it's his wish to do so if countless number of children and mothers suffer for nothing, worldwide. No food to eat or places to live. Some even die In their situation. Humanity(irrespective of their religion factions or belief system) do d best they can to help this ppl suffering for either well-doing or evil-doing which nobody but God knws, as far as we'd like to bliv it's his will.
But why da heck will u allude this totally to God's love and Just nature? This is pure fanatic Christianity.
U find it easy to spill these Ignorant phrases probably coz u find urself In a better standard of life compared to those undergoing the real hellish circumstances of life that u use as basis for ur faith.

enhancement can only apply to a preexisting entity. How bou someone who doesn't even knw the Christian faith, struggling to survive, children that have known suffering all their lives, ppl who wake up not knowing if they'll live thru dat day. I guess their inexplicable suffering is to enhance a faith that wasn't there in d first place?
I guess u've lived all ur life in d corners of a church. You don't read news, goto UNICEF, WHO, USAID websites and see suffering, then you'll fink well before u brag in ur thankful circumstances. There's nothing as honorable as when a christian learns to bridle their tongue whenever necessary. You must fink u're now a bible scholar to try to attempt answers to questions humanity have been waiting on God to answer Convincingly for countless centuries.
Let God be God, and do ur job of serving him in purity and truth, dont attempt to bring taint to his name with ur fanatism

Even d best of preachers do their possible best to steer off of the most controversial debate ever in christendom
The concept of Good and Evil with respect to God's will.
It'll forever be an unfinished business.
you agree once again that God will cause grief and later av compassion due to love?
If love is what God uses to end the grief he may afflict us with out of his will. What then prompts God to cause the grief in the first place. Love too I presume as u've said in all ur opening article uh?
You keep repeating your incoherent argument. instead of you to hide. in shame and admit. that you do not understand the Bible or my article.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 10:01pm On Jan 15, 2017
Lennycool:
How did I lie?
I saidatheist made up 30% and the rest where either irreligious or religious.
Read your previous comment.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 10:00pm On Jan 15, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
it seems you love the sound of your own voice

I said

"THEY DON'T WORSHIP ANY GOD"

you've not proven me wrong with any of your copy pasta

not every religion involves worshiping of gods

maybe you should look at Kingebukasblog thread on "Gods without religion and Religion without Gods"
So what do they do the rituals for ? a god could be oneself. go and read about those religeons.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:57am On Jan 15, 2017
Lennycool:
30% of Japanese people are atheists. The rest fall under irreligious and the religions mentioned earlier
Why do you athiests love lies?
Shinto (神道 Shintō?), also called kami-no- michi,[note 1] is a Japanese ethnic religion. It focuses on ritual practices to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past.[2] Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written historical records of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki in the 8th century. Still, these earliest Japanese writings do not refer to a unified "Shinto religion", but rather to a collection of native beliefs and mythology.[3] Shinto today is a term that applies to the religion of public shrines devoted to the worship of a multitude of gods
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:54am On Jan 15, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
there comes a time when you know you're wrong but ego won't let you admit it, that's exactly what you're doing right now
(Catholicism).
Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and
practices, world views, sacred texts, holy places,
ethics, and societal organisation that relate
humanity to what an anthropologist has called
"an order of existence".[1] Different religions may
or may not contain various elements, ranging
from the "divine",[2] "sacred things",[3] "faith",[4]
a "supernatural being or supernatural beings"[5]
or "some sort of ultimacy and transcendence that
will provide norms and power for the rest of
life."[6]
Religious practices may include rituals, sermons,
commemoration or veneration (of God or deities)
, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trances, initiations,
funerary services, matrimonial services,
meditation, prayer, music, art, dance, public
service, or other aspects of human culture.
Religions have sacred histories and narratives,
which may be preserved in sacred scriptures, and
symbols and holy places, that aim mostly to give
a meaning to life. Religions may contain symbolic
stories, which are sometimes said by followers to
be true, that have the side purpose of explaining
the origin of life, the Universe, and other things.
Traditionally, faith, in addition to reason, has
been considered a source of religious beliefs.[7]
There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions
worldwide.[8] About 84% of the world's
population is affiliated with one of the five largest
religions, namely Christianity, Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism or forms of folk religion.[9]
Christianity Etc › Re: Christians And Muslins How Would You Bash Hermaphrodites by blueAgent(m): 6:49am On Jan 15, 2017
jonbellion:
The two religions that have been fond of bashing and exhibiting bigotry to people that are different from them.
How would you guys bash hermaphrodites
Well a hermaphrodite is a person or animal having both male and female sex organs
Christians like pointing out how homosexuality/lesbianism is bad so how would you condemn an intersexual person
Who can they be attracted to?
This is no bigdeal. Hermaphrodite is a medical disorder like any other Health issues people are born with. God or the christain church expect the hermaphrodite to seek medical attention.with mordern technology that is available today. the original sex of the person can be found and can be established using surgery to correct it. we can see how surgery are presently now. done to transform men to women.( transgender)
Christianity Etc › Re: The Great Controversy(between Good&evil) by blueAgent(op): 6:41am On Jan 15, 2017
0ubenji:
you fink I'm mixing things up.
this is one understandable problem with long stories, there's limited time to proof-read.
U keep saying something is in dis context only to say another thing the next minute.
I'll stil recommend James 1:26 to u..it's well
it is Obvious you don't understand Bible verses.this Bible verses you quoted has nothing to do with me,becos the Bible asked us to proclaim the word of God which i did with my article .the Bible also instructs us to glorify God in our hearts & words.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
This bible verse talks about one suffering for his/ her righteousness

This verse tells us that God does not will purpose to cause grief for the sake of his pleasure no. but to enhance our faith.

Lamentations 3:31 For the LORD will not cast off for ever: 3:32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 3:33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:40am On Jan 15, 2017
randomperson:
Really less than 10%, u better check again... And then compare with countries in Africa that have high Christian populations and let's see how far wink
Africans are poor becos they are corrupt and less intelligent than Asians. mind you that before christainity came Africans were not Athiests they worshipped several gods.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:38am On Jan 15, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
Mr Blueagent, learn to read and understand

I said "THEY DON'T WORSHIP ANY GOD"

Shintiosm and Buddhism doesn't involve worshipping any god

Shintoism is cultural, not evey religion involves worship of gods, "Kami" is more "spirits" "essence" "nature" etc

Taoism and Confucianism also do not involve worship of any god

you can read up on Shintoism, Taosim, Buddhism and get more enlightened so you don't wrongly accuse me of lying

Hopefullandlord is not Yahweh that he should lie
You need to go to school first and understand what religeon is.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:35am On Jan 15, 2017
Lennycool:
Not all religions believe or prat to God, and a lot of those religions are the majority in Japan.
My first concern is to prove that they are not athiests.contrary to your propangander weather the believe in God or not.
As long as they pratice ritual and observe rites which is obvious they do. than we can also class them as religeous.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 6:30am On Jan 15, 2017
jonbellion:
but I thought Christianity was not a religion undecided
And who said so?
Christianity Etc › Re: Most Europeans Are Israelities. by blueAgent(op): 10:28am On Jan 13, 2017
Wilgrea7,OLAADEGBU, lordnicklaus,raphieMontella, produce, winner01, harlems02, Zoharariel, PunkyV,KingEbukasBlog, analice107,MEILYN, hahn,GooseBaba, hopefulLandlord, otemanuduno,ValentineMaryEdenoscar, johnydon22, EyeHateGod, Immorttal, Buharimustdie20, HCpaul,Teempakguy, Mizblinks, TrajansKong, davien, norant Atheists, JackBizzle, seagulsntrawler, Rossikki, panafrican, OLAADEGBU, Tynover, Whyem15, Lucasbalo,
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 10:26am On Jan 13, 2017
MrMontella:
how does this copy and paste help your position?
At least disproved your propangader.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 10:23am On Jan 13, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
Mr Blueagent, learn to read and understand

I said "THEY DON'T WORSHIP ANY GOD"

Shintiosm and Buddhism doesn't involve worshipping any god

Shintoism is cultural, not evey religion involves worship of gods, "Kami" is more "spirits" "essence" "nature" etc

Taoism and Confucianism also do not involve worship of any god

you can read up on Shintoism, Taosim, Buddhism and get more enlightened so you don't wrongly accuse me of lying

Hopefullandlord is not Yahweh that he should lie
Stop decieving yourself, they are all called religeon.
Foreign Affairs › Re: Why Is There So Much Controversy Over Israel Building Settlements In The W/Bank? by blueAgent(m): 10:31pm On Jan 12, 2017
OLAADEGBU:
Who do you think you should support?
I support only what is biblical.
Christianity Etc › Re: D by blueAgent(m): 10:27pm On Jan 12, 2017
hopefulLandlord:
Japan has probably the highest life expectancy in the world and over 90% of the population don't worship any god
Why do you athiests depend on lies inorder to gain ground in an argument?

Lasttime i checked Japan was over 80% religeous.

Japan has full religious freedom based on Article
20 of its Constitution. Upper estimates suggest
that 84–96 percent of the Japanese population
subscribe to Shinto as its indigenous religion
(50% to 80% of which considering degrees of
syncretism with Buddhism, shinbutsu-shūgō
[226]). However, these estimates are based on
people affiliated with a temple, rather than the
number of true believers. The number of Shinto
shrines in Japan is estimated to be around
100,000. Other studies have suggested that only
30 percent of the population identify themselves
as belonging to a religion.[227] According to
Edwin Reischauer and Marius Jansen, some 70–
80% of the Japanese do not consider themselves
believers in any religion. Nevertheless, the level
of participation remains high, especially during
festivals and occasions such as the first shrine
visit of the New Year. Taoism and Confucianism
from China have also influenced Japanese beliefs
and customs.[228] Japanese streets are decorated
on Tanabata, Obon and Christmas.[226]
Shinto is the largest religion in Japan, practiced
by nearly 80% of the population, yet only a small
percentage of these identify themselves as
"Shintoists" in surveys. This is due to the fact that
"Shinto" has different meanings in Japan: most of
the Japanese attend Shinto shrines and beseech
kami without belonging to Shinto organisations,
and since there are no formal rituals to become a
member of folk "Shinto", "Shinto membership" is
often estimated counting those who join
organised Shinto sects. Shinto has 100,000
shrines and 78,890 priests in the country.
Buddhism first arrived in Japan in the 6th
century; it was introduced in the year 538 or
552[229] from the kingdom of Baekje in Korea.

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