Spain's state religion is the Catholic denomination of Christianity. My school was Jesuitinas (Jesuits) among Catohlics, that is, Jesuits who introduced Christianity to Japan for the first time by Francisco Xavier in 1549. I have always described it as an "elementary school", but it is actually an integrated school that nurtures studens from kindergarten to high school. I will describe it as an elementary school for the sake of convenience.

In the 80's, Spain was still a religious country, and naturally, one of the classes in my school had a religious period. I think the students read the New Testament, discussed the contents, and the teacher summarized the discussion. I think what I remember from the class was a story about Jesus Christ defending a woman who had sinned. I was still a child, but I remember something didn't sit right with me.

"That's too simple. I think humans are more complicated than that."

I have felt unconvenienced even as a child with little life experience. Just like a Japanese morality class. (To begin with, it is strange that there are no religion classes in Japanese schools, except Buddhist schools and Christian Schools.) Was it forbidden by GHQ(*1)? I don't remember exactly, and some day I'd like to read the New Testament properly from an adult perspective.

The painting represented Christ appearing from the Bible and preaching to me.

(*1) GHQ: General Headquarters (office of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers). Established in Tokyo in 1945 as the high command for occupying and managing Japan after the Pacific War.