In Reply to: money and power posted by Acheick on September 30, 2003 at 06:14:51:
Japan's reasons for going to war were primarily economic. The fact that they were a Bhuddist nation had no bearing on their efforts to take over other countries. You could also argue that America was a Christian nation when we were attacked by Japan, but Japan didn't give a fig about our religious beliefs, they wanted territory.
Yes, Hirihito used Bhudism to get his armies to fight to the death, but I don't think it is valid to claim that the war between Japan and the U.S. was religious.