Liberation of the World through Natural Religion

 

                                                                   Osamu Ichiyoshi

                                                              Thursday, 5, June, 2025

 

Foreword

Our world has been full of human miseries; poverty, oppression, confinement, terrorism and wars.

I have made a historical study to find out the causes of those problems. I think the basic cause is

division of the society into ruling and ruled classes. The ruling class is well organized to maintain the

power by monopoly of knowledge, religious authority and military force to keep the ruled class

ignorant and disorganized. The social division was brought into the human society by civilization a

few thousand years ago. Human beings before the civilization had been free, equal and independent.

The change can be simply characterized by differences between state religions and the natural

religion. Thus the liberation of the world from those problems can be achieved by recovery of the

natural religion.

 

 

1.    Natural religion

What are human beings?  When did our ancestors become human beings in the evolution? I believe

our ancestors became human beings when they started burying their dead decorated with flowers.

They must have had concept of the other world from which we come from at birth and return to at

death. They learned there are unreal world greater than the real world. They believed in the souls

that could travel between those worlds. Thus was formed the basic concept of time and space.

 

Our ancestors believed in animism and shamanism. The animism is a belief in anima; universal

spirit existent in everything. The shamanism is a belief in the possibility that human beings can

communicate with the anima through human activities and words. I think that is exactly the basis of

our science & technology today. We believe in existence of universal laws in everything and our

capability in understanding those laws by words or concepts. We also prove and utilize the natural

laws through experiments and applications.

 

Another feature of the natural religion is the equality of human beings. There was not even such a

word as equality and freedom because they were omnipresent and self-evident. Who could

monopolize the anima? Those words were coined when they were lost by division of society brought

by the civilization a few thousand years ago.

In our contemporary words, the natural religion is democracy and science & technology.

 

2.    Primitive Ages as basis of civilization

The basis of our civilization was established during the long primitive ages (tens of thousands of

years). All sorts of tools for living and working were invented during those ages. Stones of various

kinds were used to make such tools as axes, knives, scrapers, awls, grinders, spears and arrows

heads, weights for fishing nets, etc. Bones of animals were used to make fishing hooks, needles,

sculptures or building houses. The potteries enabled storing water, fruits, grains and even wine. Use

of fire enabled our ancestors expand their living areas to colder regions. Most food we eat today; rice,

wheat, potatoes, maize and corns and all kinds of vegetables were collected and domesticated by our

distant ancestors. Cooking food was made possible by inventions of pottery, use of fire, knives and

other utensils. Domestication of dogs and cats began very early.

 

The greatest invention in the primitive ages is language. The archaeology has revealed trading was

made far and wide in the primitive ages. Exchange of goods must be achieved by exchange of ideas by

words. Basic numbers and simple additions and subtractions must have been used. Language

enables communication and accumulation of knowledge that accelerates development of human

culture.

 

The people in the primitive ages were free and equal. The primitive people were entirety in

themselves; hunters, fishermen, gatherers, tool makers, carpenters, traders, teachers, doctors, ,,,.

The food supply was unstable hence the population density was sparse. The life span was short

hence chances of becoming orphans were high. The orphans were then brought up by the families.

Those facts can be inferred by Japanese language today. The words “Oji” and “Oba” mean uncle and

aunt. An interesting fact is that “Oji-san” and “Oba-san” are used to call adults even if they are

strangers especially by children. I think that is the remnant of our society in the primitive ages.

 

The Japanese word for “human being” is “hito” which also means “one” and “equal”. Similar usages

can be found in English as in such cases as “One is mortal”, someone, anyone, everyone, oneself, only,

etc. Similar phenomena can be found in other languages.

In the original Japanese there are very few words showing vertical human relationship. Such a word

isKimi” which meant “ master”.  The word today is used only to call very close friends or someone

lower in social status. “Tamae” is an ancient word to ask things to gods with the highest respect, but

it is used today to order things to someone much lower in the social status. Those reversal

phenomena, I think, show our strong propensity for equality in Japanese culture.

  

Almost all terms for the positions in the government, companies or any other organizations are in

Kanji; Chinese characters. The vertical human relationship had been unknown to the land of Japan.

As Japan came out of the primitive stages to civilization, the vertical human relationship invaded

Japan with the Chinese writing systems. I think the same can be seen in English. Most words of

civilization originated in ancient Greek and Rome.       

 

 

3.    Civilization

Domestication of animals and plants brought agriculture that bore the concept of private ownership.

Competitions for better lands brought wars between villages. The winners annexed the losers as

subordinates, thus the human society split into ruling and ruled classes. The process continued to

formation of tribal kingdoms ruled by kings. The process further continued to formation of empires

ruled by emperors. In the class-divided society the emperor is almighty. The ruling classes have all

the rights to order and the ruled only the duties to obey. This is quite an unnatural relationship that

required development of state religions to justify the rights of the rulers to rule their subordinates.

 

3.1.State religions

The religious reflection of the almighty emperor must be God, creator of the universe. The emperor

was either God or the primary priest to serve the God. Shrines of enormous size and decoration were

built in several key places in the empire territories to impress the people the dignity of their rulers.

Almost all of the ancient empires were thus ruled by emperors dignified by state religions. Other

religions than the state religions were strictly prohibited with severe punishment. Just remember

how cruelly the Christians were oppressed by Roman Empire. Frankly speaking the source of the

powers of the emperors was monopoly of the religious authority.

 

Evil nature of state religions

Is deprivation of the freedom of the people. No other religion than the state religion is allowed. Nor is

freedom of thought, choosing occupation, change of social classes, migration, etc. The freedom,  

equality and natural way of life in the primitive ages were robbed by the state religions.

 

3.2.Judaism and Christianity

The state religions of the ancient empires disappeared by fall of those empires except for Judaism.

Judaism is a monotheism in denying any other gods; a pure form of state religion. Another feature of

Judaism is that it is exclusively for the Jewish people. It is the most selfish and only one state

religion that has survived until today because the Jewish tribe never established an empire.    

 

Christianity is misunderstood to be related with Judaism because of the Old and New Testaments

bound together in the Bible. But I think they are totally different. Jesus Christ never prayed to

Jehovah, nor preached based on Judaism. He denied Judaism in chasing the merchants away from

the shrine in Israel (denial of Judaism way of prayer), breaking the Judaism law by allowing his

disciples to eat the offering in the shrine on Sunday and treating the Samaritan woman with respect,

etc. Jesus Christ denied Judaism. That is why he was killed by the ruling groups of the Jews. By his

teaching and death on the cross, Jesus Christ started a world religion for all the people.

 

3.3. Change of Christianity

The early Christianity was oppressed severely not only by Judaism but also Roman Empire. The

punishment was severe. In some cases the Christian believers were made a cruel spectacle in Roman

Colosseum where hungry lions devoured the people. Despite of the oppressions the Christianity kept

growing in Roman Empire which could not stop declining. In year 313, the ban of Christianity was

lifted, and then Christianity was adopted by the empire as its state religion. Then Christianity,

which was so pure under suppression, gained the evil nature of state religion. Forming the

hierarchical church system, it banned any other way of prayers or search for the truth. The shining

scientific and artistic culture of the ancient Greek and Rome disappeared in Europe. The historical

progress of Europe was hindered for a thousand years; dark or medieval ages.    

 

By the religious authority, the Church got donations of territories from the feudal lords, itself grew to

be a lord of manors. The Church argued with the emperors for the right to appoint bishops. The

monopoly of religious authority was the source of the power of the Church. 

 

3.4.Joan of Arc            

France had been invaded by England since 1337. At the height of crisis, France was saved by a girl;

Joan of Arc who destroyed the invaders (1429) and helped Prince Charles rise to the throne of

France. But the king betrayed her. He handed her to the horrible Inquisition of the Catholic Church

which burnt her to death in 1431. What was her sin? Being a witch! Joan of Arc heard God order her

to go and save France. The direct communication between individuals with God breaks the monopoly

of the sacred power by the Church and that of the secular power by the king.

 

     

4.    Recovery of Humanity

During the dark ages the people’s quest for learning the truth never stopped. Universities were

founded in Bologna, Paris and Oxford in 11th century. The invention of printing by G. J. Gutenberg in

1440 enabled explosive dissemination of knowledge to break the monopolies by the Church and

Court. The influx of the ancient Greek culture and science via the Islamic world developed the

ground for Renaissance, Religious Revolution and Geographic Discoveries. “Renaissance” means

rebirth”, recovery of humanity from the yoke of the Church. The discovery of the New World brought

not only silver, potato, maize, tomato and other new products but also knowledge about “natural

state of human societies.” Beforecivilization.    

 

 

4.1. Religious and Scientific Revolution

Recovery of ancient Greek and Roman culture brought liberation of human beings from the rule of

the Roman Catholic Church. Humanism prevailed in arts, literature, architecture and science. The

religious revolution started in 1517 when Martin Luther openly revolted against sales of indulgence

by the Catholic Church. The revolution spread all over Europe. As a result, Protestants Churches

were established. The monopoly of Christianity by the Catholic Church was shattered.

 

The Ptolemaic astronomy was challenged by heliocentric theory which N. Copernicus published in

1543. The heliocentric theory was completed by J. Kepler in1619. Galileo Galilei expanded

astronomy by observation of the moon and planets with his telescope. He published his book in 1632

for which he was summoned to the Inquisition of Catholic Church. Galileo also started experimental

method of physics. All those works were fully integrated by I. Newton into his theory of gravity,

mechanics and calculus in Principia published in 1687.

 

4.2. J.J. Rousseau

Since discovery of the New World by C. Columbus in 1492, new knowledge about the human society

before formation of the states was brought to Europe. The freedom and equality of the people in the

primitive society gave Rousseau a clue to solve the problem of poverty and misery caused by the

unequal social system in the civilized world. He published his Contractual theory of the Society in

1762. Human beings have equal rights in nature. In forming the government people present some

portion of their right to the government by Contract for administration. In return the government

owes the people a responsibility to meet the contract. If the government fails to meet the trust of the

people, they have the right to replace the government. Thus Rousseau established the principle of

modern democracy. The monopoly of power by kings, emperors, popes or any others was thus

theoretically shattered.

    

4.3 Independence of USA and Revolutions in Europe

North America was colonized by the people oppressed in the Old World for social or religious reasons.

Many people emigrated to North America for freedom of religion, speech and search for happiness.

Therefore there was a natural tendency for democracy which was strengthened by Rousseau’s

contractual theory. Another source of democracy in North America came from the native society

there. In the indigenous society which was still in primitive stages in 18th century, the tribal

members were equal. The leaders were elected equally by all men and women of the tribes. The

union of five tribes of Iroquois regularly met to discuss and solve inter-tribal problems.

The declaration of independence of USA in 1776 clearly includes the above elements. The United

States of America was the first state without a king and with representative democracy in the

modern age. The founding fathers; G. Washington, B. Franklin and T. Jefferson were good friends

with the indigenous people. The drafter of the Declaration of Independence and the 3rd president of

USA; T. Jefferson admired the honesty and bravery of the indigenous tribes and offered them the

compliment “noble savages”.  ,

 

The influence of the independence of USA was immediate. The French Revolution started only three

years later. Series of revolutions over a century followed for democratization of Europe.

 

 

5.    Industrial Revolution

It is a fundamental revolution of human society; the Second Wave comparable with the First Wave

which was the beginning of agriculture according to Alvin Toffler. We will very briefly view some of

the elements of the revolution.

 

[1] Mechanization

The revolution started in the textile industry in the Great Britain. John Kay’s invention of the flying

shuttle patented in 1733 increased the productivity drastically. Large factories were built and hired

a great many people for the expanding industry along big rivers to utilize the water power.

 

[2] Age of Steam

Practical steam engine was invented by J. Watt in 1764. The steam engine advanced the industrial

revolution as the factories could now be built anywhere most appropriate for the industry.

Successful application of steam engines to railways transportation was achieved by G. Stephenson in

1829 between Liverpool and Manchester. The railways networks spread all over the world changing

all aspects of life and industries. The steam power also totally changed transportation by ship. The

long history of the wind power came to an end.

 

[3] Age of Petro

Application of internal combustion engines began in mid-19 century. Main applications were for the

power to drive factories. Henry Ford began sales of Ford-T vehicle in 1908, which brought

automobiles to commodities of the general public. Another important application of the internal

combustion engine (ICE) is applications to airplane. Brothers Wilber and Orville Wright succeeded in

the first motored flight with their hand made airplane in 1903. Thus the revolutions in transportations

on the land, ocean and in the air have totally changed the world.    

 

[4] Age of Electricity

The electric motor and generator was invented by M. Faraday through his discovery of

electro-magnetic induction in 1831. The application to electric railways advanced later in 19th

century.

Thomas. A. Edison opened a vast consumer market by his invention of audio recorder, moving

pictures and incandescent light in 1879.

The telegraph was put into practice by SFB Morse in 1837. The telephone was invented by A. G. Bell

and others in1876.

Numerous inventions and industrializations were made in 19th century. The speed of progress

increased dramatically.  

 

. 

6.    Imperialism and World Wars

The industrial revolution and the scientific advances since 18th century generated hopeful prospect

and belief in the incessant progress of mankind. However, the advancement in science & technology

brought unprecedented destruction in the conflicts, especially in the two world wars in 20th century.

Why? We will view the world history from the Japanese viewpoint. 

 

Japan is geographically separate from Eurasia hence had been more or less isolated through the

history. Japan had entirely closed herself for about three hundred years until mid-19th century.

The Edo period was the completion of the feudal system in Japan. The basic policy of the ruler was

(1)  Keep the people ignorant so they depend on us (rulers)

(2)  inhibit any organization of the people with punishment of death.

The feudal system extremely slowed the progress of Japanese society for so long.

 

During that period the world had quite advanced in science & technology as reviewed in the previous

section. I n the mean time the European kingdoms grew to empires. The world had been fully divided

by European empires. Even China was in the state of half colonization by European empires. Such

was the state of Imperialism world Japan was forced into in the middle of 19th century. There was a

real danger Japan might be also colonized.

 

Japan pondered how to survive in the world of imperialism. Then the basic policy was set to make

oneself an empire. The traditional power sharing political system (federation of lords) was replaced

with a strictly concentrated power structure under the name of the emperor. The polytheism of

Japanese ancient mythology was changed to a highly centralized structure in order to dignify the

emperor as direct descendant of the sun-goddess. The dogma was quite effective to promote Japanese

militarism and suppress growth of democracy. Through victories over China in 1895, Russia in 1905,

Japan grew to one of the greatest world powers.   

To meet partially the demand of the people and match the progress of the world, the parliamentary

system was introduced in 1889. But the right to vote was limited to only male and those who paid

more tax than a preset value. It is quite obvious the political power was monopolized by a small

minority of the upper classes.

The national militarism grew the military clan intending to control the Japanese politics. The

emperor system was fully utilized by the military clan to ignore control of the government. Thus the

war in China since 1931 grew out of the control of Japanese government. The negotiation with USA

came to a dead-end and the full scale war broke out on 8, Dec. in 1941. It was a part of World War 2

fought over Asia. The destruction of the Pacific war was unprecedented. Japan alone lost 3 million

lives. Many times more lives were lost in Asian countries.

 

 

7.    Today; the third wave civilization

Upon consideration of the world wars, United Nations (UN) was established in 1946 to solve the

world problems through international dialogue and co-operations.

Japan established a new constitution in 1946, which is based on three principles; democracy,

fundamental human rights and renunciation of wars. Based on these principles Japan has had no

war for 80 years since 1945.

 

The advance of science & technology never ceases. Alvin Toffler named the on-going advancement of

the information technology The Third Wave comparable to the Second Wave (Industrial Revolution)

and the First Wave (Beginning of Agriculture ).

One of the bases of the information technology is invention of transistor.

In Bell System Laboratory, M. Kelly set a team to develop a solid state device to replace vacuum

tubes. The team succeeded in invention of transistor in 1948 for which W. Shockley, J. Bardeen and

W. Brattain were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1956.

Another basis of the information age was set by C. E. Shannon by his celebrated paper;

“ A mathematical Theory of Communication “ published on 1948 Bell System Technical Journal.

 

Numerous inventions and developments have been made; Integrated Circuit, micro-computer,

Mobile communication, satellite communication & broadcasting, personal computers, the Internet,

Artificial Intelligence ,,,. We are in the midst of the Third Wave revolution going on.

 

 

Conclusion

Recover the equality and freedom of all human beings by democracy, universal religion and science &

technology. Note the great builders of our modern civilization; J. Watt, G. Stephenson,

G. Washington, B. Franklin, A. Lincoln, M. Faraday, T. A. Edison, and many other great people could

not have much school education. They made great efforts in desperate adversities. They were also

great organizers. Learn from them. Learn from your experience and cooperate with other people to

improve the hard situations for the better. Use the Internet to establish constructive relationship

with others. Nothing can keep you from thinking. What do you need anything else?

                                  -E-