Given that the Moonies are a recognized cult elsewhere in the world, it should be easy for Japan to legislate to make it illegal for it's elected politicians to be members of cults, or to have to declare their membership of cults when standing for election. Indeed, in a democracy politicians should have to declare their membership of all cults, religions, unions, business organizations, charities, and any other paid employment. Otherwise how does the voter know who their politicians are really working for?
If the Unification Church is legally defined as an illegal organization it should be easy to remove its political influence and and the influence of its backers. Getting to that point is the hard part.
I said "no", because I cannot vote, although I would help vote out the people in this cult if I could. The voters don't seem to care one way or the other, except to complain, and then hand power back to the people who take the donations to begin with. The LDP COULD of course, get rid of the Unification Church, but it's easy money for them. So, they'll just review things and keep taking the money. So, "no".
Given that the Moonies are a recognized cult elsewhere in the world, it should be easy for Japan to legislate to make it illegal for it's elected politicians to be members of cults, or to have to declare their membership of cults when standing for election. Indeed, in a democracy politicians should have to declare their membership of all cults, religions, unions, business organizations, charities, and any other paid employment. Otherwise how does the voter know who their politicians are really working for?
I have no doubt that they quickly draw some conclusions or learned something from that rather drastic lesson. Influence of religions , churches or sects is in the very most cases of absolutely no good for politics, their representatives, parties, governments and their decisions. Not anywhere else and also not in Japan.
voted no because despite having a separation between the church and state, religious institutions will still have influence over society that the government will want to cash in on.
I don't think so. Once one have a strong ties with something or someone, it is easy to imagine removing it is difficult. Since such connection tend to depend on financial aspect or other influence, disconnection will cause negative effect each other.
Once a church is established primarily as a business it is fair game. Over thirty years ago a cult, which claimed NOT to be UC when asked, infested San Francisco International Airport. It claimed First Amendment rights and also claimed it was not a business. These creeps aggressively solicited money, pulling bait and switch tactics among other things. A year later they were confined to an obscure table and apparently were not openly soliciting. They appeared to be nervous if anyone approached them. A year after that they were gone. The moral of this story is that once if is proved that a so-called religious organization is established as a business it should lose its religious rights and privileges.
My inner Rihanna singing like "don't tell me you're sorry cause you're not~ I know you're only sorry you got caught~"
They decided not to investigate further about this matter yesterday. so I voted "no". LDP is not going to change, because they don't care about citizens. They only care about big votes (=UC).
Im not sure its possible to make the unification church illegal, unless they are engaging in illegal activity. However, there should be stronger disclosure laws including cash donations or other services provided where politicians and political groups keep a record of all these donations in a public manner.
"Do you think it is possible to remove the Unification Church's influence from Japanese political parties?"
Alternatively, is it possible to remove Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism and, even, now, Islam from American politics? Sadly, Humans, even politicians, are highly susceptible to these cults and politicians even more highly susceptible to their money and organizing abilities of the mindless so, as long as 'political parties' are composed of Humans, we will have the influence of these cults in 'political parties' which, themselves, are cults.
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Paul14
Given that the Moonies are a recognized cult elsewhere in the world, it should be easy for Japan to legislate to make it illegal for it's elected politicians to be members of cults, or to have to declare their membership of cults when standing for election. Indeed, in a democracy politicians should have to declare their membership of all cults, religions, unions, business organizations, charities, and any other paid employment. Otherwise how does the voter know who their politicians are really working for?
yamada1043
Too much “religious” money goes into politics … hence, no!
wallace
The LDP needs to amend their constitution on donations.
jeancolmar
If the Unification Church is legally defined as an illegal organization it should be easy to remove its political influence and and the influence of its backers. Getting to that point is the hard part.
smithinjapan
I said "no", because I cannot vote, although I would help vote out the people in this cult if I could. The voters don't seem to care one way or the other, except to complain, and then hand power back to the people who take the donations to begin with. The LDP COULD of course, get rid of the Unification Church, but it's easy money for them. So, they'll just review things and keep taking the money. So, "no".
Harry_Gatto
Is it possible? Yes.
Is it likely to happen? Not in the near future.
Kasumigaseki and Nagatachō are swamps long overdue for draining.
kennyG
And naturalization record if any too
Paul14
What's a naturalization record?
FireyRei
People voted Yes hoping it will happen.
Sven Asai
I have no doubt that they quickly draw some conclusions or learned something from that rather drastic lesson. Influence of religions , churches or sects is in the very most cases of absolutely no good for politics, their representatives, parties, governments and their decisions. Not anywhere else and also not in Japan.
ushosh123
Unlikely but where there's a will there's a way.
kaimycahl
Get rid of the old clones and you can get rid of the churches influence!
runner3
Interesting all these clowns are members of a Korean "church "
Toshihiro
voted no because despite having a separation between the church and state, religious institutions will still have influence over society that the government will want to cash in on.
ZALD
I don't think so. Once one have a strong ties with something or someone, it is easy to imagine removing it is difficult. Since such connection tend to depend on financial aspect or other influence, disconnection will cause negative effect each other.
jeancolmar
Once a church is established primarily as a business it is fair game. Over thirty years ago a cult, which claimed NOT to be UC when asked, infested San Francisco International Airport. It claimed First Amendment rights and also claimed it was not a business. These creeps aggressively solicited money, pulling bait and switch tactics among other things. A year later they were confined to an obscure table and apparently were not openly soliciting. They appeared to be nervous if anyone approached them. A year after that they were gone. The moral of this story is that once if is proved that a so-called religious organization is established as a business it should lose its religious rights and privileges.
Concerned Citizen
Legally exerting influence over politicians is part of the democratic process. Vote them out if we don't like them. That's the most effective remedy.
aaaaaiiiiiiiiiii
My inner Rihanna singing like "don't tell me you're sorry cause you're not~ I know you're only sorry you got caught~"
They decided not to investigate further about this matter yesterday. so I voted "no". LDP is not going to change, because they don't care about citizens. They only care about big votes (=UC).
Mazlan Isa
Nope, make it illegal first in US. That's quite impossible. $$$
ScottDRad
Im not sure its possible to make the unification church illegal, unless they are engaging in illegal activity. However, there should be stronger disclosure laws including cash donations or other services provided where politicians and political groups keep a record of all these donations in a public manner.
stormcrow
Money, money, money! It makes the world go around!
William Bjornson
"Do you think it is possible to remove the Unification Church's influence from Japanese political parties?"
Alternatively, is it possible to remove Christianity, Judaism, Mormonism and, even, now, Islam from American politics? Sadly, Humans, even politicians, are highly susceptible to these cults and politicians even more highly susceptible to their money and organizing abilities of the mindless so, as long as 'political parties' are composed of Humans, we will have the influence of these cults in 'political parties' which, themselves, are cults.
Aly Rustom
no.
very little in Japan changes, that's why