"I was worried I might be brainwashed" Interview with a Happy Science believer one year after joining【I tried joining Happy Science】

We conducted a follow-up interview with someone who shared their feelings shortly after joining.

N, who was worried about losing money and being brainwashed, said they disliked religion before joining. Now that about a year has passed since they joined Happy Science, how are they doing?

We asked about their current feelings.

The person we spoke with is...

R.N (26 years old, male, Tokyo) Engineer. He enjoys hot springs, and going to the local public bath has recently become one of his pleasures. He joined Happy Science through online membership and became a believer after taking the Three Returns Vow six months later.

You can read R.N's previous interview in this article.

R.N: Well... I didn't feel the benefits of becoming a believer, and living a normal life, I didn't know if joining a religious organization was a good thing.
Actually, when I was in high school, I once sent a postcard attached to the back of Happy Science's monthly magazine (propaganda magazine) saying, "Please send me more monthly magazines."
As a result, a member came to my house with the magazine, but my parents got really angry. It was then that I first thought, "Religion is bad," and I began to feel disgust towards religious organizations.
I continued to read President Okawa's books and thought Happy Science was good, but I had a strong prejudice that "religion is dangerous" due to the image of losing money and being brainwashed. I also thought that only hysterical or strange people who blindly believe without their own thoughts or values were joining.

N: It was completely different from my image. It was gentle and very free. There was no money taken or brainwashing at all; it felt "normal."
I think Japanese people generally have a fixed notion that "religion = anti-social religious organization," and even if not, there is a small image like "one sect, one faction."
However, I was surprised to find that Happy Science, although it is called a religion, is on a completely different scale. The philosophy is profound, and I truly believe it has the power to become a world religion in a few decades.
The members are normal, and in fact, many are really good people. There are many who are socially respected, and I have met many excellent and admirable individuals. I think it is quite different from the image of religion that most people have.

N: In a word, my luck has improved. When I think of doing something, the path naturally opens up, and it feels like collaborators gather on their own. Therefore, my sense of success has greatly increased.
When you join Happy Science and read "Shoshin Hogo", it is said that "guardian spirits awaken" and "life improves." I was half in doubt before joining, but now I feel, "I see, this is what it is."
Rather than doing something by my own power, I have a strong sense that various things are moving and work is being done by a great power beyond human wisdom. Moreover, since "the answer is always within President Okawa's teachings," I have a sense of security that I can handle whatever comes my way.

N: It really comes down to whether I can believe that "Ryuho Okawa = Supreme God El Cantare." I thought President Okawa was a great person as a human. However, the idea that "the existence of El Cantare appears in human form" is something that, even when explained or read in books, I still couldn't truly understand.
Through faith and through prayers in scriptures like "Shoshin Hogo", there was a moment when I first "understood." "Ah... he's not just a mere 'human'," it was an experience that brought tears to my eyes, something I can't quite put into words.
When I realized that I was able to come this far because I was loved by God and that it wasn't a coincidence, it was truly shocking, and I didn't understand why I felt so moved, but I felt that I had been searching for this all my life.

N:

Well, I do talk about it. I recommend books saying this is good, and I tell people that Happy Science is good. Since it's something good, I really hope it spreads... In my case, even if I try to hide it, it gets found out (laughs).

Since it's something I truly think is good, I can't hide it, and I've never received a negative reaction.

However, I think that people will see Happy Science through me, so I feel even more that I can't do anything embarrassing, and whether people are watching or not, I really feel that I have to live sincerely.

N:

First of all, I think it's good to talk to people. There are many things you can understand by talking to members.

Also, what I think is that at the point of being interested, in a sense, you are already a "believer."

Having that much interest means you must have a strong desire for Happy Science. If you think President Okawa's books are good, I think you should try believing in them.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether you believe in President Okawa or not, so if you think what this person is saying is right and you like it, I think you should take the plunge.

Even if you are afraid of being hurt by doubts, you won't truly become wise, and without courage, nothing will happen. Reflecting on the time it took me to join, I want to say, "Don't hesitate, be brave."

It's really fun to have deep conversations about "Why do humans live?" with those studying at Happy Science, andtaking courses open_in_new is also really interesting, so I think it's definitely better to join.

There are people who think negatively of Happy Science just because it is a religious organization. However, over 90% of those who are negative about Happy Science have never read a book from Happy Science. I don't think it's logical to deny something you don't understand just because you don't understand it.

In reality, I think the only way to judge whether Happy Science is good or bad is by looking at the fruits. The best way to judge is based on how the believers are doing. I think it's good to first talk to a believer and then make your judgment.

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