Religion & Beliefs Archives - The CommentaTHOR

Yuri Chekalin08.04.2024

Since ancient times, in Japanese mythology they have been portrayed as jokers, shapeshifters — they can transform into people: commoners, monks, samurai, etc. If in Chinese fairy tales raccoon dogs are evil and treacherous, then in Japanese they are more likely to be pranksters, lovers of a good life. Since these tanuki are everywhere looking […]

Pavel Begichev12.09.2022

Who are the Old Catholics? Most people have never even heard of them. Today we have the opportunity to ask a few questions to Archbishop Metropolitan Pavel Begichev, General Secretary of the World Council of National Catholic Churches, the largest conservative Old Catholic association in Europe. — Monsignor Pavel, can you briefly tell us who […]

Yuri Chekalin10.03.2022

During the period of transition from this world to yukai, the hidden world of subtle energy, the spirit-soul is at its most vulnerable. It can be likened to a delicate butterfly, at the moment of emergence from its chrysalis. Therefore, there are spirits entrusted with the task of protecting the spirit-soul from danger at this […]

Yuri Chekalin19.07.2020

Many Japanese visit Shinto shrines for devotional purposes and yet have their funerals held at Buddhist temples. In recent years, Christian-style weddings have become fashionable, making the situation even more complicated. Many Western observers find Japanese spiritual practices hard to disentangle and so are tempted to dismiss Japanese spirituality as convoluted and confused. In their […]

Yuri Chekalin15.06.2020

Ancient Japanese have expressed the world after death in various ways. Beyond death, one is said to go to the following variously expressed realms: the eternal land, or the land of root (tokoyonokuni, or nenokuni) the hidden world (astral world) (kakuriyo) the land of the dead (Hades) (yominokuni) the mountain, where the dead become guardian […]

Yuri Chekalin04.06.2020

During the period of transition from this world to the other world of Yukai, the hidden world of subtle energy, the spirit-soul is at its most vulnerable. It can be likened to a delicate butterfly, at the moment of emergence from its chrysalis. Therefore, there are spirits of Kami entrusted with the task of protecting […]

Prot. Victor Harakas21.05.2020

Many of our Greek Orthodox Christians in the US have become members of Masonic lodges. They hear of criticisms leveled against Masonry and are puzzled by them, especially because they understand Masonry to be on the side of God and morality, in general. They find it difficult to understand the charges leveled against Masonry which […]

Yuri Chekalin04.05.2020

A peculiar form of society was created in Japan after World War II. The birth of such a secular, materialistic, and atheistic society perhaps cannot be found in any other age and place in history. It is said that most Japanese, when asked for their religious status in filling out an application form for a […]

Yuri Chekalin02.05.2020

Shinto is undeniably a religion unique to the Japanese people. It is a natural religion born and nurtured in the Japanese islands, unlike Buddhism or Christianity, which are world religions that have come to Japan from foreign countries. Certainly we cannot deny the influences on Shinto from Buddhism, Confucianism, or Chinese culture. Their influences on […]

Religion & Beliefs

Tanuki is Japanese for Raccoon Dog

Western Rite Orthodox or Catholics without a Pope

The spirits of Kami protect the dead during the transition to the other world (yukai)

Why Do Kannushi Not Perform the Funeral at the Shinto Shrine?

Ancient Views of the World After Death

The Spirits Protect the Dead During the Transition to the Astral World

Masons and Orthodox Church

Japanese Atheists and Faithless Japanese

Shinto is a Rich World of Faith

“Bulgakov — Get Out the Russian Chauvinist from Kyiv!”

Japan Reopens to Foreign Tourists

About the Dangers of Supplements

135 years ago Charlie Chaplin was born!