That would be an interesting explanation but it doesn't explain her ex-classmates who are men (and some have gone pretty nutty....as in door to door Jehova Witness type nutty). However maybe it is possible they have had some personal crisis (job, family, etc) and they turn to religion as an outlet. But most are just moderate so not sure if a small crisis would push a person into being simply moderately religious.
She also thinks they seem to believe EVERYBODY over here is religious (just like some people on PDF think all of the USA walks into churches in Sundays)
What you're referring to is a social imposition aspect of Confucian societies, actually. It is a unique trend in both Japan and China ; this notion of : 嘗める -- to experiment, to taste, to try -- in the sense of a foreign ideology. Trust me when Japanese , i'm speaking here in the Japanese contextual world view, experiment and delve into a social ideology , to which religion is but one independent variable, we do so and apply the tenets into the larger Japanese identity world view. The religious imposition of self character is but an additional strata. Its application tends to be done only in context to the Japanese social identity in both macro and microscopic social vantage point. Ultimately, even in 'religious' Japanese persons, say he or she has converted to another faith alien to Shinto or Buddhism, then he or she will do so practice in private and not impose his or her belief systems onto others of the collective society. And lastly the practice of said new religion is usually an enlightenment of the greater self being and is done so with respect with the past ideologies of said person , it is done in the spirit of synergism and transcendentalism --- in context to the self and of the perception of the
divine. It is done so in context to how new ideology can positively transform and contribute to the underlying whole and base.
Ultimately , the take home point i want you and others here to understand is that the primordial and base of every East Asian society (Japanese, Chinese, Korean) is Confucius and Confucian doctrine, upon which is the invisible social guide that permeates every social practice and ritualism in East Asia. It is almost a pre-programmed social etiquette and social philosophy that is implied , yet resonating and deeply trans-generational. This is what continues to define and differentiate Confucian East Asia from the rest of the world and one of the reasons why Confucian East Asia remains relatively
Amphiphatic.
Regards,
Kenji
Regards.
china's state religion is communism
No. I think you need to approach China or the Confucian Greater Far East Asia with a different mindset. Greater East Asia does not operate in absolutes that is common in majority Abrhamic religion practicing civilizations (Muslim World, Christian World, Global Jewry). We do not operate with the mindset of the absolutism as espoused by the G_d of Avrahom/ Abraham / Ibrahim. So our societies values and perceptions tend to be more .... pragmatic in nature. Religion(s) are not social paramount pillars , rather, are just but a fraction , one form of indepedent variable in context to the ideation of the sense of 'Empire' in the Confucian world view.
Political philosophies , Personal religious preferences , even economic models --- are all transient , impermanent , but may be considered in its positive health for the health of the Empire / Civilization. Communism does not define China nor North Korea, rather, Communism was the philosophical entity that was used to transform China during that period of her history to restore National Solidarity and National Unification. Ultimately, as you notice if you ever read into Chinese History, China has used various philosophical theories in her past. China is not static, rather, is organic and being that she is an Organic entity , is open to adopt new theories , philosophies as the Nation marches forward towards progress.
The thing you need to take home is this: China will utilize what theory or philosophy best for the Chinese Nation and even when that happens, only bits and pieces or core essentials of said theorem is used and is done so in context to the Chinese methdology.
How it best applies for China.