Shinto has remained an important piece of cultural heart of Japan.
The many practices, attitudes, and institutions that have developed to make up Shinto revolve around the Japanese land and seasons and their relation with the human inhabitants.
The traditional religion of Japan, nearly 80% of the country’s population take part in Shinto practices or rituals. Shinto is Japan’s major religion alongside Buddhism and the country is home to over 80,000 Shinto shrines.
So what is Shinto?
What are the beliefs and rituals?
Shinto is deeply rooted in the Japanese people and their cultural activities.
Unlike many religions, Shinto does not have a founder nor does it honor a single god. There is also no sacred book such as the Bible or holy place to pray to.
Shinto believes in the kami, a divine power that can be found in all things.
Shinto believes in many gods and animistic since it regards animals and natural objects as deities.
It’s safe to say that Shinto is less like a religion and more like a way of life or way of looking at the world.
Shinto involves the worship of kami.
Kami can take the form of animals or natural objects such plants, mountains, or rivers.
They are said to be responsive of human energy and have the ability to influence the course of natural forces.
Once a human dies, they are said to become a kami themselves and are memorialized by their living descendants.
Not all Kami are thought to be good, however, and the goal is to ward off evil kami.
Both men and women are allowed to become priests and they may choose to marry and have a family as well.
Today Shinto is one of the most widely practiced religions in Japan. Nearly every aspect of Japanese culture is influenced by Shinto beliefs whether its politics, ethics, the arts, sports, or spirituality.
So… is Shinto Pagan?
In the sense that it is a nature-based religion consisting of multiple deities, the easy answer would be yes.
Because Shinto is a nature based religion and not Christian, in that way, it’s much like Paganism.
But most likely, Shinto practitioners would like their religion to be viewed as their own belief, not necessarily part of wider pagan movement.
