Why are so many Chinese people atheists? What do they believe in instead of a god?
Actually, the majority of Chinese people are not "atheists" by definition. It doesn't make sense that you evaluate oriental religious/superstitious beliefs under the system of occidental perceptions.As an atheist, you have to reject the existence of deities, which, in my book, means that at least you must acknowledge something as a fact no more than what is scientifically accepted or what you're able to see with your own eyes. In other words, If you recognize yourself as an atheist, at least you don't believe in deities' existence of any form until one is scientifically proven or physically seen. However, that's not what is working under the surface of the "atheism with Chinese characteristics". Most Chinese people don't believe in God as in Christianity, or Allah as in Islamism, but they would kneel and pray before a random Buddha statue in a random temple, or even the graves of their parents, grandparents, and parents before them. The former may be considered as quasi-Buddhists or potential believers of the Buddhism, while the latter's something beyond the western definition of religions - you believe that your deceased family members can be somewhere up there watching over you and protecting you, with supernatural power, which exactly function and serve as deities in religions. That's absurd. I mean, what if your passed pops had been an uneducated poor farmer with absolutely no notable achievement in his life, with his death he somehow would've turned into an almighty deity instantly? In this case, the power of death per se takes much priority over the deceased, because it transforms human beings into deities.Ironically, nobody kneels before a board that writes "DEATH".Even more ironically, tens of millions of people would burn money-like paper for their deceased family members at graveyards or crossroads, so that they can be rich in the heaven. Dude, they're already deities and they're still worrying about money?Generally, in China, it is considered as superstition by determined atheists. But you can't even persuade your own parents out of this ignorant idea. So that's not atheism. If it were a religion, it would be one with the faith that everybody can become a god through the transform of death.This is but one peek of this fake atheism. Chinese people's religious/superstitious perceptions can be much more complicated than you think.
Religious beliefs in japan?
Religious beliefs in japan? what were the religious beliefs in japan during the 11 centuries between CA 500 and 1500 in terms of the power that they gave to particular groups in at least four different momments in the long period, focusing on the different sets of power arrangements the people in each moment deviesed. what kinds of continuity, changen, and perhaps conflict do you see among your the four examples. Please help this is a question i have to answer and I have no clue what to do or how to answer it.
Do ghosts, apparitions or poltergeists exist?
Nope. If lights are flickering and the tv turns on & off, hire an electrician. If you hear strange noises at night, check for nocturnal infestations, i.e. rats/mice. Or look for other logical conclusions. If you're actually seeing ghosts, get on the right medication. Seeing things that aren't actually there is called a hallucination. It isn't a good sign of sound mental health.
Describe maleficium and theological witchcraft?
Maleficium witchcraft is fictitious. It is based on the crazy, demented and distorted beliefs of those who felt that witchcraft was evil and the work of the devil. It comes from the 1486 document Malleus Maleficarum (the 'Hammer against the Witches'), used to torture and murder the innocent. This type of witchcraft DOES NOT exist. . . except for in the minds of those who prosecuted the innocent. I believe that the term "Theological witchcraft" refers to genuine religious practices. However, practices and beliefs that have been termed "witchcraft" do not constitute a single identifiable religion, since they are found in a wide variety of cultures, both present and historical; however these beliefs do generally involve religious elements dealing with spirits or deities, the afterlife, magic and ritual. Sometimes witchcraft is used to refer, broadly, to the practice of indigenous magic, and has a connotation similar to shamanism, or it can refer to modern-day Wicca. Theology has been defined as reasoned discourse about the nature of the Divine Higher Power, the Creator, Great Spirit, God and Goddess, or more generally about religion or spirituality. Theologians use various forms of analysis and argument (philosophical, ethnographic, historical) to help understand, explain, test, critique, defend or promote any of a myriad of religious topics. It might be undertaken to help the theologian understand more truly his or her own religious tradition, understand more truly another religious tradition, make comparisons between religious traditions, defend a religious tradition, or facilitate reform of a particular tradition, assist in the propagation of a religious tradition. In summary, maleficium witchcraft is false: made-up nonsence that caused the death of innocent victims. Theological witchcraft are legitimate religious traditions with real beliefs, practices and doctrines.