The critical reader may perhaps admit, in view of the facts thus far presented, that the ignorant millions have some degree of religious feeling and yet, in view of the apparently irreligious life of the educated, he may still feel that the religious nature of the race is essentially shallow.  He may feel that as soon as a Japanese is lifted out of the superstitious beliefs of the past, he is freed from all religious ideas and aspirations.  I admit at once that there seems to be some ground for such an assertion.  Yet as I study the character of the samurai of the Tokugawa period, who alone may be called the irreligious of the olden times, I see good reasons for holding that, though rejecting Buddhism, they were religious at heart.  They developed little or no religious ceremonial to replace that of Buddhism, yet there were indications that the religious life still remained.  Intellectual and moral growth rendered it impossible for earnest and honest men to accept the old religious expressions.  They revolted from religious forms, rather than from religion, and the revolt resulted not in deeper superstitions and a poorer life, but in a life richer in thought and noble endeavor.  Muro Kyu-so, the “Japanese Philosopher” to whom we have referred more than once, rejected Buddhism, as we have already seen.  The high quality of his moral teachings we have also noticed.  Yet he had no idea that he was “religious.”  Those who reject Buddhism often use the term “Shukyo-kusai,” “stinking religion.”  For them religion is synonymous with corrupt and superstitious Buddhism.  To have told Muro that he was religious would doubtless have offended him, but a few quotations should satisfy anyone that at heart he was religious in the best sense of the term.

“Consider all of you.  Whence is fortune?  From Heaven.  Even the world says, Fortune is in Heaven.  So then there is no resource save prayer to Heaven.  Let us then ask:  what does Heaven hate, and what does Heaven love?  It loves benevolence and hates malevolence.  It loves truth and hates untruth....  That which in Heaven begets all things, in man is called love.  So doubt not that Heaven loves benevolence and hates its opposite.  So too is it with truth.  For countless ages sun and moon and stars constantly revolve and we make calendars without mistake.  Nothing is more certain.  It is the very truth of the universe....  I have noticed prayers for good luck, brought year by year from famous temples and hills, decorating the entrances to the homes of famous samurai.  But none the less they have been killed or punished, or their line has been destroyed and house extinguished.  Or at least to many, shame and disgrace have come.  They have not learned fortune, but foolishly depend on prayers and charms.  Confucius said:  ‘When punished by Heaven there is no place for prayer.’  Women of course follow the temples and trust in charms, but not so should men.  Alas!  Now all are astray, those who should be teachers, the samurai