The Sin of Believing Too Much — So as Not to Lose Our Way
AI Summary
Excessive belief in “Armageddon” or in the nation can lead human beings into a state of suspended thought.
Returning to the blessings of daily life and continually questioning what one ought to follow is the path that prevents faith from going astray.
The Iran War as a Crusade
When I hear the word “Armageddon,”[1] I am reminded of Aum Shinrikyō.
If the end of the world does not come, then one might as well create it — that is what the Tokyo subway sarin attack seemed to suggest. “Armageddon” is frightening.
It is said that among American conservatives, belief in the coming of “Armageddon” is spreading widely. A segment of Evangelicals who absolutely support Israel, as well as parts of the military, are said to be strongly influenced by this belief. In such a context, it would not be surprising if the Iran war were also understood as a “crusade.”
Before what is perceived as the justice of Christianity from a thousand years ago, adherence to contemporary international law would hardly be considered worthy of attention. The crusade they believe in is the embodiment of absolute justice against evil. When this is combined with an unwavering belief in the return of an armed Jesus, and further supported by what is said to be the most powerful military force in the world, then truly, nothing remains to be feared. It becomes something beyond control.
Between the Organ Theory and the Theory of Sovereignty
There was once a man who was worshipped as a living god.[2]
He himself was no different, physically or mentally, from those who attended to his daily needs. Even if he were revered as divine, he believed that he ought to make decisions in accordance with the constitution. Yet he was enshrined as the sole sovereign, absolute and inviolable, standing above the constitution.
Though he intended to “reign but not rule,” he found himself, against his will, drawn into governance. Even with absolute sovereignty, when placed in a situation where he was told that the state must be preserved, and that he must heed the demands of the military, he could not avoid issuing approval for war, even if he did not wish to do so.
It was the sanction of a living god, the supreme commander. For those who longed for such approval, no decision could have been more powerful. There was no room for dissent or objection. No justice or law other than their own could exist. After all, it was the will of a living god. This too could not be stopped. It was beyond control.
Preserving the Seed of the Nation
The people believed in the living god, believed in the absolute victory of the divine nation, and fought in unity under the banner of loyalty and patriotism. Toward the end of the war, in an attempt to secure even a slight advantage in negotiations, special attack operations were carried out, in which 6,000 young lives were lost.
It is said that words were bestowed:
“The ramming aircraft performed admirably and achieved remarkable results. They truly did well in offering their lives to the nation.”
Yet what followed were large-scale aerial bombings across Japan, including Tokyo, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. According to official government figures, 3.1 million lives were lost,[3] leading to unconditional surrender.
In a letter sent to the Crown Prince shortly after the war, the cause of defeat was acknowledged as follows:
“Our people believed too much in the Imperial nation and underestimated Britain and America. Our soldiers placed too much emphasis on spirit and neglected science. If the war had continued, we would not have been able to preserve the Three Sacred Treasures, and we would have had to destroy the people themselves. Therefore, swallowing my tears, I strove to preserve the seed of the nation.”[4]
“Offering One’s Life”
Does this not starkly reveal the ultimate consequence of a system in which people are deified in order to sustain a state structure?
On the level of the individual, it becomes a question of what one believes and what one ought to follow. The result of suspending thought and “believing too much” is precisely this: a national crisis on the brink of total annihilation.
It is also the question of whether one ought to “offer one’s life” to a system of human rule, even if that system claims absolute sovereignty.
In truth, the answer to this question reveals the true value of religious thought, or of faith itself.
It is not a difficult matter. Take, for example, this morning’s meal. Where did the ingredients come from? Consider vegetables. Their existence means there was land, and there was rain.[5] One may say that we partake of life nurtured by the earth — but is the source of that life the state system or a deified ruler?
What ought to be believed is not to be found there.
The Blessings of Heaven
Whether one considers the existence of this world itself, or the fact that such existence is perceivable at all, if there is something that human beings — who sustain their lives through the blessings of heaven and earth — ought to believe in, is it not that which encompasses all of these and continuously renews creation?
In Arabic, this is expressed as Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn (Lord of all worlds). It is the Lord of all that exists in this world — not the lord of a particular people, a particular land, or a specific group, but the Lord of all human beings and all existence.
The mere fact that a person is born into this world means that they have already received immense grace. That alone gives value to their existence. Would such a Creator take pleasure in the indiscriminate taking of innocent lives in order to hasten Armageddon? Would this not be an act of rebellion against God?
The blessings bestowed by this Creator are beyond counting. Yet such immense blessings are often overlooked, and attention tends instead to be directed toward those who provide directly before our eyes, or toward earthly authorities.
Even so, this Lord continues to show signs of what ought to be believed in — even through something as simple as our daily food. One must not turn away from this.
What Is Faith?
Human beings often divide others into categories — friend and foe, believer and unbeliever — and alter their attitude accordingly. If one labels the enemy or the unbeliever as evil, one may feel no guilt in attacking them.
But is this not, in fact, disbelief?
It is an act of elevating one’s own assumptions as divine, while disregarding the truth of creation and the will of the Creator.
Yet, in reality, the degree to which each person is ungrateful to the Creator or has gone astray differs from one individual to another. In such a situation, one may stand alongside others, but one cannot cast stones at them. This should be all the more so for those who believe in the Prophet Jesus.
To have been brought into this world means that there exists something that grants and sustains life. Each person must continue, day by day, to receive these blessings, and to question and discern what it is they ought to follow.
What is frightening is not only Armageddon. It is the suspension of thought when one loses one’s way.
All praise belongs to the Lord of all worlds. Allāhu aʿlam (God knows best).
Footnotes
[1] “NHK World Documentary: ‘Awaiting Armageddon: Evangelicals Influencing U.S. Politics’ (Part 1),” NHK BS, first broadcast May 27, 2025.
[2] “The Century of Images: Butterfly Effect — Emperor Shōwa (Part 1): From Constitutional Monarch to Living God,” NHK General TV, first broadcast March 30, 2026.
[3] “Estimated Japanese War Dead Reach 3.76 Million, Exceeding Official Figure of 3.1 Million,” Asahi Shimbun, November 17, 2025.
[4] [2]
[5] The Qur’an, Sūrat ʿAbasa (80):24ff.
Special Thanks
ChatGPT
Title Image
Nicholas Roerich, Armageddon, via Wikimedia Commons
Acknowledgements
This English version was prepared with the support of ChatGPT.
The author gratefully acknowledges its assistance in translation and linguistic clarification.