None of us want to suffer. In the west especially, there’s seldom any good seen in suffering, only hallow “silver linings” that we use to encourage those going through struggles. In east Asia, suffering is more tolerated and even embraced, though of course, it’s still not preferred. We see this in the media produced there, such as in Final Fantasy X, in Tidus and Yuna, as Jack Hoey points out, “rage against the indifferent heavens” upon discovering that the church is hallow and that there is no meaning to the suffering Yuna was to undergo.
In his article about suffering, Hoey also points toward Silence, Shunsaku Endo’s classic (now being made into a film by Martin Scorsese). The book tells us that, indeed, there is meaning in suffering. Silence is as troubling a book as I’ve ever read, because it makes us question what we believe by putting forth unimaginable suffering and putting us in the position of those who witness it. But Christians (the primary character in Silence is a Jesuit missionary) must know that when we turn to Christ, we, too, must carry our cross daily and share in the sufferings of the Savior, who in turned had suffered so greatly for our sake, while keeping an eye toward eternity, where suffering is no more.
Read Hoey’s entire excellent article at Christ and Pop Culture:
>> Revelations of Suffering in ‘Final Fantasy X’ and Shusaku Endo’s ‘Silence’
Here are other articles involving spirituality and Japanese media from the past couple of weeks:
The result of acedia can be viewed by the change in Kenshin following the events involving Kaoru in the Jinchu arc of Rurouni Kenshin. [Medieval Otaku]
Are there any “Christian” anime? There are certainly at least some original English language works that could be categorized as such. [Anime Revolution]
Rob compares Mikazuki’s devotion to Orga in G-Tekketsu to the way a Christian should be devoted to God. [Christian Anime Review]
And last, but most certainly not least, we here on the blog would like to congratulate Anime B&B’s Marina on her recent engagement! We wish you a wonderful wedding and many blessings in your marriage! Read about Marina’s engagement and then check out her guest turn on The Tangles podcast.
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As part of the Something More series of posts, Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK to be included.
Permission for illustration grated by the artist: duex | るろうに
Thank you so much for the congratulations on my engagement 🙂
Considering suffering, this post ties in very nicely with your next one about episode 6 of Noragami Aragoto, which I just watched myself. Bishamon and Kazuma’s talk near the end of it of their personal relationship as well as the rest of her household really highlighted why I am enjoying this season so much more than the first.
But of course! I’m glad you got around to announcing it on your blog!
And oh yes, season two is sooo much better than one.