Shinto

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Shinto Japans Ancient Religion
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Shintoism is a Polytheistic belief that
expresses love and respect for nature.
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Comparison to the West

• Paganism in Europe
• Many tribal beliefs in Africa
• Practices of native cultures in North and South
  America

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Shintoism celebrates life and the beauty of nature
Shintoist worship kami
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KAMI
Kami is a general term for Shinto deities and spirits.

• Some kami are compared to the gods of the west,
  but are different in many ways, too.

Kami can also be forces of nature, important people, or even natural objects.
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KAMI
A special rock, a large tree, or a waterfall, can be considered Kami.

• The emperor of Japan was considered a Kami.

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Shinto
Unlike most other religions of the world, Shintoism has NO

• Identifiable founder

• Body of religious laws.

• Written scriptures or Holy Text

• A very loosely organized priesthood

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The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Tradition and the family
The family is seen as the main force for
traditions to be preserved. Main celebrations
relate to birth and marriage.
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The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Love of nature
Nature is sacred to be in contact with nature is
to be close to the Gods. Natural objects are
worshipped as sacred spirits
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The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Physical cleanliness
Followers of Shinto take baths, wash their hands,
and rinse out their mouth often. Shinto stresses
purifying that which is unclean, such as dirt,
wounds, and disease. Touching the dead is
considered unclean.
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The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Matsuri
The worship given to the kami and the ancestral
spirits.
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Shintoists build shrines dedicated to specific kami. The kami respond to sincere prayers of the faithful. Shrine ceremonies include cleansing, offerings, prayers, and dances.
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• According to ________ teachings every thing in
  nature has spirits.
• These sprits called ________ are believed to
  keep people safe and help them live.
• They build shrines called gates and perform
  cermoines to ask for ____________.

Shinto
kami
blessings
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Torii Gate
When entering a shrine, one passes through a Torii
The Torii marks the separation between the finite world and the infinite world of the Gods.
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Torii Gate
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A Tunnel of Torii GatesInari Mt., Kyoto
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Torii Gong
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Shinto Temple Worship Hall
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Quick Answer Yes But in an altered form, current Japanese religion is a combination of Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.