Have you ever noticed that it is the societies with strong religious convictions that tend to be the most violent and criminal? Speaking from my own, admittedly limited, experience, both America and the Philippines have large segments of the population who at least claim to be religious. The Japanese, on the other hand, are almost completely areligious. They are generally uninterested in religion, and they cannot understand how or why other societies continue to have conflicts stemming from different beliefs.
Among these three, Japan is by far the safest and least violent place to be. It is not fear of God’s punishment that keeps people from mistreating each other. It is mutual respect for their fellow humans.
Food for thought.
