While I’m open to exploring all sorts of religious connections to anime and manga on my blog, my focus is on Christian spirituality. I’m a Christian, and so I was very interested in how anibloggers felt about the faith. As I mentioned earlier this week, 1/4 of survey respondents identified themselves as Christian, much lower than the… Read More Anime and Religion Survey: Anibloggers and Christianity
And now we’re grown-up orphans That never knew their names We don’t belong to no one That’s a shame But you could hide beside me Maybe for a while And I won’t tell no one your name And I won’t tell ’em your name When my wife was pregnant with our first child, we flipped… Read More Orphans That Never Knew Their Names: Haibane Renmei and the Power of Names
A plethora of anibloggers (including myself) are participating in the 12 Days of Christmas project, resulting in throngs of fun posts. One recent such post, by Rakuen at Borderline Hikikomori, mentions an important aspect of Christian spirituality, and one that’s important to think of this season. In discussing a certain character in the game, Arc… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Sacrifice and Arc Rise Fantasia
Christians often say that their belief is not compartmentalized. It runs through every part of their lives and affects all that one does or thinks. The following drawing, by the wonderful Filipino artist, sA-oHime, shows nothing with Christian overtones, but the verse reflects how faith and life are inextricable. Artist Reflections: I thank GOD above… Read More Christian Fanart: sA-oHime
My final selection for this weeklong series on analyzing Eden of the East characters through the lens of Christian spirituality will come as no surprise, nor will the the comparison I make. Akira Takizawa is unmistakably similar in character to Jesus Christ. And while the savior motif is extremely common in anime, Takizawa’s connection to… Read More Finding the Invisible God in…Eden of the East (Part 3)
Continuing my mini-series on parallels between seleção in Higashi no Eden (East of Eden) and Biblical individuals, the focus of this post is on Daiju Mononobe, the primary antagonist of the series. Mononobe is Lucifer himself. While it’s easy to compare almost any villain to the Devil, Mononobe makes a more interesting parallel than most. He isn’t… Read More Finding the Invisible God in…Eden of the East (Part 2)
We often laugh at the Japanese interpretation of American culture and of Christianity through anime (although they’d like likely do the same if the opposite were true). The intent of Christian symbolism in anime is typically stylistic, often use to set a mysterious, mystical and/or gothic mood. But sometimes, the symbolism runs a bit deeper.… Read More Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Abel and Cain, Vampire and Priest
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.