Further on religion, one thing I’ve noticed is the R season design of Sailor Moon’s broach–a five point star (Christianity) inset with a star-crescent (Islam), and on the inside, the facets of the Silver Crystal form a six-point star (Judaism).

Speaking of background music, does anyone know if Marty Simon wrote any of the score for the DiC OST? “Mercury Computer Scan” and much of the score for the DiC dub of the R season (particularly the “lost” epsodes) sound very like the OST for Lexx.

I’d love to explore religions in Sailor Moon in a way that is respectful to everyone involved. I know Shinto, Christianity and Buddhism all show up from time to time during the series.

It’s a hot/touchy topic, but interesting to me.

My point of view about Usagi’s intense desire to marry in a church is that it has something to see with the strong admiration some Japanese people have for Western culture(s) (Europe, America), even though they don’t know anything of it/them. Of course, this admiration is made of fantasy, it’s a fascination only fed by clichés, because they don’t know the reality of living in the West. A lot of people do have a fascination for other countries/languages/cultures than theirs, an idealized vision that does not correspond to the everyday reality of the real life within the place they admire from afar. In Usagi’s case, she seems to consider that marrying in a church is a very romantic act (and, to be fair, it is true that Christian weddings seem more romantic than the traditional Japanese weddings, which seem rather severe), nothing else: the religious dimension is, in my opinion, absent from Usagi’s and Mamoru’s thoughts. Also, having the couple marry in a church sticks more to the Western Tradition (that is a mix between pagan beliefs, Christian beliefs, and greek and latin classics) that the Moon and the Earth kingdoms seemed to embody, back in the Silver Millenium time.

As for the crosses worn by both Usagi and Haruka, I’d say that indeed, this is more for the fashion than religion. The latin cross has become a fashion accessory that you can wear to get a “rockish” aura.

I can see Minako having some Christian beliefs, but with Rei, maybe her mother had some Christian beliefs that she hung on to and that’s why she was buried here. Or maybe it’s her father who had it done, since I can also imagine it being him who put her into Catholic School.
I read one time that even though Usagi and Haruka often wear crosses that it’s more for the fashion than religion, same with Usagi’s intense desire to get married in a church.
I guess we’ll never know for sure and maybe it’s not our business anyway! XD

Some churches do have gymnasiums, though most of the ones I attended as a child had them as a separate building.