Watch the full Shinto series here: kzread.info/head/PLHsXddZFR9AO-GbFRwqoBUQnFabXy6YBr

@brunofranco4416

3 жыл бұрын

I thought the word indigenous was meant to indicate origin, not exclusivity?

@eldiaylahora2477

3 жыл бұрын

How can I contact you?

@nasalimbu3078

3 жыл бұрын

American ko north irourga tribe

@nasalimbu3078

3 жыл бұрын

Chinese ko formula japan

@gmkusnov485

3 жыл бұрын

I think it is also important to point out that Shinto has no initiation. So even for us Japanese, its is ambiguous what behavior exactly identify us as Shinto follower. I practice quite a religiously connected historical martial arts and often performs in Jinja for Kami. Thus, I am allowed to enter the Honden (sanctuary) to get a special blessing from the priest. And one time I even got blessing from the priest of Izumo shrine, one of the most prestigious shrine of all, which is a privilege not every Japanese can embrace. So this might be the closest "initiation" of Shinto in the Western sense. However, we have foreign students in our Dojo and they get to embrace blessing as well, without converting from the religion they are born to. This is like someone frankly going to Hajj without becoming Muslim, but that is how Shinto works anyway. So yes, I hardly believe that Shinto is indigenous, and if any foreigner proclaims to be a Shinto follower, I really have no complaints about it... although, I might suspect that as an extension of new wave movement or something at first.

I find it absolutely hilarious that a shrine exists venerating George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as kami.

@llewelynlawton

3 жыл бұрын

A cross over between the Shinto series and the American civil religion series

@jcavs9847

3 жыл бұрын

Ancestors can be kami right? So I guess it makes sense

@nickscurvy8635

3 жыл бұрын

You mean the washington and lincoln memorial? Oh wait those just venerate them as greek gods.... American mythology does exist. When ya realize this the shinto appropriation of american mythological figures is not surprising or unique. Especially since the american mythological figures are appropriated and styled upon greco-roman mythological figures. It is still a bit funny when you have been immersed in the american mythology since birth.

@dojokonojo

3 жыл бұрын

The painting on the Capitol Rotunda is titled the "Apotheosis of Washington" and shortly after Lincoln was assassinated, the illustration called the "Apotheosis of Lincoln" went around. Lincoln and Washington are already gods 😉

@aliasalone5823

3 жыл бұрын

Quite a few of Japanese Kami are long dead emperors and to Americans Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are in Shinto view rulers that Americans venerate so similar to their kami.

All religions start out as indigenous. Some of them spread beyond the founding group, and others don't.

@meligoose9413

3 жыл бұрын

Some religions do seem to be intentionally global from their inception, though. Like Manichaeism and the Baháʼí Faith.

@theeccentrictripper3863

3 жыл бұрын

@@meligoose9413 This gets into the sticky mess of intent vs actuality, what a faith says it is vs how it functions and exists in reality at that moment in time. More often than not these two realities are wholly divorced from each other and it becomes rather difficult to piece things together in an objective way, separate of the worldview of the faith.

@benardman2665

3 жыл бұрын

Not true

@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495

3 жыл бұрын

Except some religion purposefully made themselves to be strictly exclusive and indigenous by nature. Judaism and Yazidism are but to name a few.

@miles6492

3 жыл бұрын

@@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495 Judaism isn't "strictly exclusive" by any means. Yes, it is largely indigenous and/or cultural, but they absolutely accept converts, whether or not they have a Jewish mother. They try to dissuade potential converts not because Judaism eschews conversion, but because Jews have historically faced a lot of discrimination and tribulations and the rabbis don't want people to convert on a whim.

I would say it's both. Traditionalists might not accept people in other parts of the world but that won't stop people from believing, practicing, and adapting religions.

@rld8258

3 жыл бұрын

@Leo Law not really

@jcavs9847

3 жыл бұрын

@@rld8258 what's the exception?

@rld8258

3 жыл бұрын

@@jcavs9847 not an exception, lots of religious people want their beliefs to spread around the world

@javiersaneiro6412

3 жыл бұрын

@@jcavs9847 For example the two religions with most number of believers in the world, Christianity and Islam.

@theamazinghippopotomonstro9942

2 жыл бұрын

@@javiersaneiro6412 Exactly. You have never heard from a Christian "Oh no! More people around the world are becoming Christians!"

It's important to realize that culture, land, history and religion are all connected. American Christians trace their religion to the other side of the world, but they can never really experience and understand the life style of the early Christians, or even modern ones who live in different cultures. It's even more important to understand this in the context of Shinto, which doesn't emphasize faith and biblical canon the same way that Christianity does.

@jedimindtrix2142

3 жыл бұрын

One of the reasons Shinto is attractive to me. It's Spiritual but not overwhelmingly so. What I mean by that is unlike Christianity, Islam and other structured religions Shinto doesn't demand your absolute obedience and faith in order to "live well" and be a good person. It's more a way of life and a path to follow than a "religion" in the sense a lot of Westerners think of a religion.

@redwoodpartisan2433

3 жыл бұрын

I think that America has essentially become Hindu in the sense that America has a majority religion but it’s so individualistic and diverse in interpretation by region that religion keeps being redone all the time. At this point America will have its own... Americanist religion. As this video showed, maybe our respect for the founding fathers could cross into outright worship, much like Greek mythos

@geraldchurchill5576

3 жыл бұрын

@@jedimindtrix2142 I know there is no way to say this without being rude (it's really not my intention) but I feel like western people who are attracted to eastern religions because it doesn't have the same "rules" as Christianity are being a bit childish.

@andrewsuryali8540

3 жыл бұрын

@@redwoodpartisan2433 Not will have. Already does. Mormonism.

@TykusBalrog

3 жыл бұрын

@@jedimindtrix2142 yea Quakerism seems to be the only western religion that is equally "loose". With them you can worship god however you choose, even if that means not worshipping. And many Quakers don't even believe.

This Hawaiian Shinto reminds me of the syncretism of Christianity and traditional African religions that happened here in Brazil and other places in the Americas.

@funckymonkey5233

3 жыл бұрын

Can you give an example ? I am curious

@ForgeMasterXXL

3 жыл бұрын

I tend to look at Shinto as being naturally syncretic with whatever indigenous religion is present. For example I am aware of a number of people who worship at both Shinto & Christian sites, classing both as their religion.

@andrewsuryali8540

3 жыл бұрын

@@funckymonkey5233 Not in Brazil, but Voodoo (Vodou) and the much more interesting Rastafari certainly come to mind.

@funckymonkey5233

3 жыл бұрын

@@andrewsuryali8540 thank you brother 🙏

@rodrigorafael.9645

3 жыл бұрын

@@funckymonkey5233 Umbamda and Candomblé are Afro-American Religions in Brazil.

The Hawaiian shrine reminds me of the Vietnamese Cao Dai religion which you should definitely do an episode on. They have saints like Charlie Chaplin and Herman Melville.

Actually in my city Santos, Brazil, hade a Shinto Shrine that was demolished to build a park in their place that has a Shinto portal and some few rocks of the old temple, the japanese people that came her 100 years ago practiced their religion but over time they would convert do catolicism like majority of brazilians to better adapt to our culture but have some japanese that even in this day attend to shinto shrines in São Paulo to some festitivites

@WildVoltorb

3 жыл бұрын

don't forget Seisho no Ie, which a large number of nipo-brazilians are members, and it seems to be the result of the blend of such beliefs

@ZeroGravityFuneral

3 жыл бұрын

Christianity is a religion of intolerance and hate and you can’t change my mind

@wintermiller4845

2 жыл бұрын

@Sanctus Paulus Most christians seem to lol

@JoinMeInDeathBaby

2 жыл бұрын

@@ZeroGravityFuneral YOU seem to be a person of intolerance and hate :)

@LeoJackson98

Жыл бұрын

That's sad. If only Christianity and Islam were syncretic... Imagine what a better world it would be, the ancient European religions wouldn't have been suppressed, same later for the native American traditions. Of course there's also a political element because Shinto coexisted with Buddhism up until the new nationalist agenda came

Imo, being a form of polytheism (see Edit below for clarification) and incorporating ancestor and nature spirit worshipping, Shinto certainly can find something in common with Neopagan traditions and maybe even New Age spirituality. This would make it possible for non-Japanese to incorporate Shinto practices into their religious lifes and, in the end, adopt Shinto practices holistically. That being said, if a foreigner adopts Shinto on account of its similarity with that foreigner's, say, Neopagan beliefs, there would be a reason to ask, whether what has been adopted is actually Shinto and not some sort of "non-specific eclectic paganism" with Japanese aesthetics. EDIT: Thanks for all the replies, certainly gives something to think about. A little clarification: by "polytheism" I did not mean the term in its strict sense of "worshipping a multitude of deities/spirits equally", but rather "the belief in multiple deities/spirits that can be worshiped in any number of ways". That would include henotheism, monolatry, etc.

@lshulman58

3 жыл бұрын

I share your thoughts on that

@ForgeMasterXXL

3 жыл бұрын

Their are some excellent qualities to the Shinto belief system, which as you say make it easier to incorporate them into existing belief qualities.

@MadHatter42

3 жыл бұрын

I suppose there are two ends of the spectrum here; on the hyper conservative side, you can say that Shinto is a purely Japanese folk tradition, which can be used to justify ethno-nationalism. On the hyper liberal side, you can say that Shinto is a universal religion that can be adapted to any foreign nation, people or culture, which can be used to dilute the religion until it's an empty shell of it's former self, like butter spread over too much bread. Finding some kind of comfortable middle ground is a matter of endless debate, and probably comes down to personal opinion, more than anything.

@ForgeMasterXXL

3 жыл бұрын

Syncretism happens in all religions, is Christianity diluted by how it adapted to local religions - I would suggest in fact some of the core tenets were strengthened. Shinto can do the same thing even easier, as stated in the video individual temples have differing Kami that they venerate and as such they can adapt, and at the same time still work together. I think it comes down to this question. Does Shinto have a core set of tenets, for example veneration of nature, these tenets or ideals would be present in all temples not just those devoted to Amaterasu etc. You could for example hold the tenets true and also venerate a localised Kami, such as the British Royal Family.

@corymoon2439

3 жыл бұрын

As a pagan I 100% agree. I see many similarities with my own beliefs. I have 3 pillars of worship those being the gods, spirits, and ancestors. Shinto hits the spirits and ancestors on the nail, gods not so much but hey 2 out of 3 is pretty good for being half the world away. I've asked a few pagans who were in Japan about Kami and if they saw them as the local land spirits (we call them landvaettir, I'm saying spirits for ease). Both said yes after having a few experiences at local shrines. I have zero intentions of practicing Shinto myself but I recognize it and respect it as the Japanese version of my own faith. And they are probably better since Shinto has been continually practiced unlike my own which largely died for centuries.

I think the answer might be "both". I can imagine that when building a shrine outside of Japan, practitioners can conceive of Kami local to their own area. In polytheism and animisim there's the idea of "our local spirits/gods" and then also foreign ones, which are recognized but live elsewhere (and not in your local shrine). I think that allows for shrines outside Japan that utilize the same ritual practices but recognize a different mix of Kami. Imo I think shinto may be flexible enough to have shrines overseas, since ritual practice seems to just as or more important than believing in Kami.

@tompatterson1548

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, and polytheism historically has imported gods like Aphrodite from Ishtar, so I could easily imagine various deities from everywhere being added, from christian saints to old gods to neoopagan deities being added to the list.

@hippybecca

Жыл бұрын

I agree. I have always appreciated it and if i was to be any religion I would want to be shinto. it also seems to be less hamful than most religions since it is more of a spirituality.

Religions are very interesting when dissecting the culture behind them.

@humanity600

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly.

It's so strange to learn that Granite Falls WA has a Shinto shrine. I grew up there for a while and it's a VERY small rural town just below the Cascade mountains. It's also very conservative. That seems like such a random place to put a Shinto shrine!

@greatexpectations6577

3 жыл бұрын

Mountains have huge significance in Shinto. That could be why they chose that specific location.

@allangibson2408

2 жыл бұрын

Shinto is VERY conservative…

@williamanderson8386

Жыл бұрын

That is exactly the culture that would respect and grow Shinto.

@NotSoNormal1987

Жыл бұрын

Im not too suprised. Seattle has a lot of connections with Japan. And the spread of Japanese ideas around there makes sense

@setsunasakamoto5567

9 ай бұрын

Not anymore 😞

As a neopagan I certainly see Shinto as having universal appeal. When speaking with japanese exchange students at my university, it seemed clear that our ideas about religion were more similar than different. Considering how new age religious movements tend to work, and I mean this in positive and negative ways, it's amazing to me that Shinto type practices and inspirations aren't more widespread among neopagans. Shinto has all of the tools necessary to adapt to new environments, adopt elements of them (such as foreign or cultural gods), and an appealing, relavant message about both nature and mindfulness. I maintain a personal shrine which sits high on a wall. It's not a kamidana, but it might be close. Neopagan belief already incorporates nature worship, polytheism, and animism, often with purification practices and interaction with a personal, dynamic, spiritual world.

@carmichaelree

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds to me like you're only drawn to the aesthetic of neopaganism. Ancestor worship becomes completely shallow and meaningless when you change what has historically been an ethnic religion for thousands of years into a universalist religion.

@ConcernedAboutCrows

3 жыл бұрын

@@carmichaelree I think that's a little offensive given you don't know me or my religious practice, but I can see what might bring you to that conclusion. Obviously, I disagree. I think religions are constantly changing over time and syncretism is a natural by product of cultural interchange. Common ground between religions is also not unusual, providing an easy point of comparison. RFB's video is raising the question of ethnic or universal religion and there's some good points there. I'm just drawing comparisons between shinto, a nature revering animistic faith, and my nature revering animistic faith, and how there are similar themes and mindsets with both.

@kirstencorby8465

3 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same. Sounds like Shinto is moving into another pagan polytheistic tradition among other traditions. There's room for both streams, I think, as in any pagan religion -- strict traditionalists and more syncretic, universalizing practitioners. The traditionalists may not like it, but they can't stop it.

@laszlogg

Ай бұрын

@@carmichaelreewhat do you think how Christianity was practiced outside of Europe? What do you think, how Buddhism was practiced when it arrived to Japan? Do you really think that ALL Christians or Islam followers practice ALL of the teachings correctly on a regular basis? If you could show a priest from hundreds of years ago how (im from the EU so) Christianity is practiced today, what priests say, what’s in the holy book, what people grasp from the stories, they probably wouldn’t even recognise it. Also, I think (noone has to accept this, this is my perspective, as there are many other) its not a bad idea to broaden your horizon and take the things that you find useful. Everything’s in a constant change. I can understand why Shinto is appealing to a lot of people, there’s something about the ceremony and the ‘down to earthness’, to respect your surroundings, think about your ancestors, purification. Some ppl probably don’t want to listen to completely off bs about ancient stories translated to the modern societies - sadly that’s my experience with Christian preaching… At the end of the day we can say that ALL religions are kind of made up, their holy books were corrected hundreds of times throughout the years. Also, Shinto doesn’t say that it’s the only one way to believe. One’s own sirituality is probably more valuable than chanting stories that you probably don’t understand anyway out of pure heritage. Nothing’s wrong with heritage, in fact I think it’s important to know where you’re from, you don’t have to deny your past. I don’t want to offend anyone, I’m just saying that all people are different, as the world is more and more open ppl are finding ways to import things from other cultures more easily. In the past a buddhist monk or an European missionary had to travel hundreds of miles to spread the teaching, now everything’s available with a couple of clicks. Who knows, maybe a thousand years from now Shinto’ll be the new big world religion.

08:50 It's quite interesting that a lot of Western converts to Shinto practice their faith with what seems to me as characteristically born-again-esque fervour like daily offerings of prayer which to my Tokyoite sensibilities is quite foreign to say the least, while a vanishingly small percentage of urban population in Japan own a personal Shinto-specific altar as opposed to a more syncretised, part Shinto part Buddhist part vaguely ancestor-veneration kinda altar, to which then again as far as I personally know very few people pray or light an incense in front of on a daily basis.

@rishabhthakur7559

3 жыл бұрын

That daily offering/incense is more hindu than anything else; the westerners who do practice Shinto have probably had exposure to Hinduism. And daily offering is practiced by almost every household among us Hindus.

@rishabhthakur7559

3 жыл бұрын

@Xiuh I mean the native European faiths were pretty related to Vedic hinduism (not the one that evolved after buddhism came to be), so some synergy was there.

@Theo-oh3jk

3 жыл бұрын

@@rishabhthakur7559 yes, somewhat. It's due to most of Europe and a large part of the Balkans and India having a similar ancestor religion: the Proto Indo-European religion.

I live in germany and in my hometown there is a shinto shrine. Very beautiful place

@carmichaelree

3 жыл бұрын

Germany has their own ancestral religion. The Germanic religon.

@xiuhcoatl4830

Жыл бұрын

@@carmichaelree yet shinto looks closer to the ancient germanic spirituality than atheism, catholicism or lutheranism

Could the tension between Ethnic Japanese-Only Shinto and Gaijin-Inclusive Shinto lead to a split of religions, like between Judaism and Christianity?

@faithlesshound5621

3 жыл бұрын

Or that between conservative and liberal Judaism?

@wouldyouliketomeetkenbamba9495

3 жыл бұрын

There will be no split because they were never one to begin with.

@CutieZalbu

3 жыл бұрын

You could have simply said ‘foreigner’ instead of ‘gaijin’ screams weeaboo

@LangThoughts

3 жыл бұрын

@@CutieZalbu Funny, the only Anime/Manga I'm into is JJBA.

@red2theelectricboogaloo961

2 жыл бұрын

it seems like that is the case. what barrish has seems to be a change of some sort from a "members vs. gentiles" sort of religion into a "beliefs and tenets" type of system, and it seems like it could break off and become its own thing seperate from a more traditional shinto framework which places more emphasis on tradition and, dare i say, race

Gotta get here early for the future world religion

@cinammonstyx7622

3 жыл бұрын

This kind of thing is why I wish I could live forever. How cool would it be to witness the growth of a new world religion over centuries?

@jeffmarlatt6538

3 жыл бұрын

If you like the idea of possible future religions, are you familiar with Dune by Frank Herbert ?

I'm curious to know exactly how the American Shinto priests interact with the idea of Kami in America. If they are spirits connected to the natural environment, such as rivers, trees, rocks, etc. then do they have to make up new spirits connected to American natural phenomenon? Would you name and identify these spirits, or just worship the natural phenomena themselves without anthropomorphizing them? Do Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon have really big, important spirits, comparable to that of Mt Fuji? How does the Kami of Mt. Rushmore feel about having presidential faces carved into it? Also, there are many natural sites that are already sacred to Native American traditions, such as Bear Butte in SD. What if a non-native American wanted to build a Shinto Shrine at Bear Butte? Do you worship two different spirits side-by-side, or do you try to work Lakota mythology into Shinto practices? That sounds problematic, to say the least...

@Magnulus76

3 жыл бұрын

No, they don't have to make up new spirits. Most Shinto practiced in the US is associated with the Konko faith, and involves veneration of the personification of the Spirit of Heaven and Earth, which unlike in western monotheistic faiths, is not seen as "above" the world of particular things. Therefore, it's less important that one selects the "correct" object of veneration and more important that a person has sincerity and reverence.

@MadHatter42

3 жыл бұрын

@@Magnulus76 I see. Love me some good Heaven and Earth worship! So, would it be correct to say that it's a veneration of the universal spiritual/natural energy of which Kami are individual manifestations?

@Magnulus76

3 жыл бұрын

​@@MadHatter42 Sort of. In Konkokyo, the universal spirit is thought of as a divine parent and related to in a personal manner. But in practice that belief isn't as exclusivistic as in western monotheism.

@Magnulus76

3 жыл бұрын

@@MadHatter42 This is a link to a short documentary about a minister in the US in the Konkokyo sect of Shinto. Though she doesn't explicitly mention her sect in the video, the Divine Reminder hanging on the wall in the back of the church is a giveaway. And yes, they are often called churches in the US, and even in Japan, since they function in a similar manner as places of social gathering and the religious leaders minister to people as part of the religion- in fact this is related to why this sect of Shinto started in the first place. kzread.info/dash/bejne/iY6juKd6eKvImbQ.html Everyone is welcome in a Konko church, the religion does not exclude people based on creed, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. In that sense it is a universal religion.

@Cuix

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, this is part of what makes the whole "American Shinto" thing feel kinda yikes to me. Like... local spirits, connection with the land, understanding our place in the world by respecting and venerating it but not considering ourselves inherently above or below it... They know folks were already practicing religion/spirituality that way before this land was colonized, right? I can't help but notice that this American Shinto priest is white, and is choosing to import a foreign religion rather than try to connect with the practices that already existed where he lives... Does that feel off to anyone else?

The very first non Japanese/ Western Shinto priest lives in the Netherlands and is named Paul de Leeuw. He had to proof that kami also exist outside of Japan. He send a photo of a tree in the Netherlands and he was proven right by his Shinto teachers in Japan.

@redwolf7929

Жыл бұрын

Kami are nature spirits.they are everywhere. Just called differant things in differant cultures.

@MildlyRabid

Жыл бұрын

I googled him and he’s a TV host. It does not sound sincere.

@oberonichiban9104

Жыл бұрын

Hi Emily, Yes, we also have a famous Dutch tv host with the same name, but that’s not the same person. Google some more. 🙃

In Brazil because of the large japanese population, there is a shinto shirine in São Paulo, but there isn't a kami enshiraned. Some people prefer mantain a kamidama with their house.

@kirstencorby8465

3 жыл бұрын

Is it really a Shinto shrine if it doesn't venerate any kami? Serious question. What then do people gather to worship at the shrine then? Their own individual kami they are devoted to? Ancestors? Tell us more.

@Duque_Biscoito_de_Quixotiche

3 жыл бұрын

@@kirstencorby8465 there is festivals to summon kamis that are temporaly enshiraned. Like in Japan, this sanctuary is a space for the manifestation of kami. There are tow diferent sanctuaries in shinto: the house of kami, or a "main templo" and the place to summon temporaly a kami, like a "portal" between takamagahara and the earth

@kirstencorby8465

3 жыл бұрын

@@Duque_Biscoito_de_Quixotiche Okay, thank you.

In Sri Lanka also you can find an indigenous faith going well along with Buddhism - but it does not have a name as such. The idea of Kami is very much the same. Different from village to village and sometimes historical figures, other times related to some natural feature in the area, or even from the Hindu pantheon later become popular. Many people who believe and even practice don't notice the difference - only when one learns about Buddhism (and see how people actually practice and believe) they notice two distinct religions intertwined in practice. It is that, Buddhism does not replace any pre-existing indigenous belief - able to coexist and intermingle.

We incorporate Shinto values with our kids, being thankful for everything is important. They're only 3 and 1 and they say thank you to things like the house for keeping them warm and their bath water for cleaning them.

You mentioned Japanese kami being worshipped abroad, but I’m surprised you didn’t mention foreign figures being enshrined in Japan like Thomas Edison.

@asianbeowulf4276

2 жыл бұрын

Gotta keep up that whole Japan is intolerant and aggressive viewpoint, like with his ridiculous tangent on OMG wartime propaganda may be ramping up in Japan!!!

@b.cdrisk2035

Жыл бұрын

That's disgraceful because Edison wasn't Japanese

@michaelfritts6249

11 ай бұрын

I was fortunate to experience Akihabara back in 1991.. I think Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse (and many more) would be amazed.. There were "3rd floor" electronics that wouldn't hit the US market for 3 years..

@teehee4096

2 ай бұрын

​@@asianbeowulf4276 Chill bro, relax.

Sadly the shrine mentioned at the start of the video is now closed down. It closed on 30, June, 2023.

@kapifromnevada4697

2 ай бұрын

Rip 🪦

You can't imagine how delighted I was to click on this video :)

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad, I was delighted to write it! 😊--Kaitlyn, RFB Shinto series researcher/co-writer

@sean.werner

3 жыл бұрын

Cuz Shinto and anime come from Japan idk?

@djcudworth2355

3 жыл бұрын

What? You have to have a licence to be a Shinto priest?

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

@@djcudworth2355 yes, there are many levels/ranks of credentials for Shinto priests! 😃 They spend several years taking training courses and whenever they want to rank up, they have to take an exam. But not all priests get their licenses through the Shrine Shinto seminaries/universities. Large shrines also have their own licensing/training programs. Its a lot of work! 😵

Missed opportunity to call the video AMERI-KAMI. Lol

"Defining Religion is a very high stakes topic". That's why we leave it to KZread comment! What could possibly go wrong? ;-) I love this series and your other content, thanks for doing this!

When people say that Shinto is a Universal Religion, do they mean Traditional Japanese Shinto? More Modern Secular Shinto (were everyone says they believe in Kami but aren’t superstitious or visit shrines that often)? Or are they talking about Animism? I think they’re talking more about Animism because that’s been a universal foundation for belief for hundreds of thousands of years. I’m enamored buy the practices of Shinto, and think it’s valuable to more observant of the world around us, whether you believe in spirits or not. Yet I think the tricky thing in making Shinto universal is transmitting meaning of certain rituals (washing hands, writing to Kami, etc) to everyone. When most religions move to someplace new or are enforced, the older, more orthodox practices get mixed with new ones and look different. Two examples that come to mind was how Christianity was made the state religion in Rome in the 4th Century (thus bringing a lot of “pagan” practices into the fold) and how Catholicism in the Caribbean is practiced in places where there’s Voodoo or Native Spirit rituals brought from Africa.

@ForgeMasterXXL

3 жыл бұрын

Good analysis, I would add Santeria as an example of Catholicism melding with the native religion of the Yoruba people.

@rachel_sj

3 жыл бұрын

@@ForgeMasterXXL Yes, I was thinking of Santeria when thinking of the fusion of Voodoo and Catholicism, but just couldn’t think of the name!

@nhansen197

3 жыл бұрын

Something to keep in mind regarding Shinto is that it is not necessary to actually believe in the Kami. What is held important are the rituals. As far as animism goes, the primary divine Kami are all human or in human form. Only the servants of a Kami take on the form of animals, Inari's foxes being the most famous. That said, a Kami can be a place as well. Shinto can't be restricted to an Animism based faith because within Shinto everything has a Kami within. Kami is an integral part of any given place, animal, person, object, or natural phenomenon.

@queenbionica7347

Жыл бұрын

It depends really. I believe Shinto is universal. I and my husband have been practicing Shinto for years, and we go to a Shinto shrine when we can, but we also have a Kamidana in our house with Ofudas in the Kamidana. We have the Norito book which is prayers to specific Kami, as well as other books from Japan on proper techniques in regards to how to approach a Shrine and Kamidana, as well as how to do offerings, etc. I and my husband believe in Yokai, and we do venerate our ancestors too. We learned through certain Shinto priests in Japan, and here in America too.

This video needs at least one qualifying statement that was left out. Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, which is the head shrine of many Shinto shrines in Japan dedicated to Inari, is not part of Jinja Honcho. In addition there are any number of independent shrines. So when the spokesperson at the head office of Jinja Honcho makes statements regarding the number of practitioners of Shinto, that does not mean they are in anyway connected to that organization.

Now I want to build a Shinto Shrine...

In the English speaking West Shinto is likely to become a universalist tradition but in a transformed and hybrid form. I mean, in a form transformed from what we can see now in the shrines in Hawaii and continental America. Shinto is very likely to be syncretized with modern Paganism (some Pagan bloggers and scholars are already consedering the many similarities between the two religions). The ways of syncretization, we may surmise, will include the abandonment of shrine-centeredness which now characterizes most of Shinto, and the emergence of a more individual-centered practice (perhaps with magic taking a more prominent role than now). I think it possible because the same is now happening to many Afro-Carribean traditions in America. They are taken out of their communal context, translated into the context of a globalized megapolis and marketed transnationally. The religious "grammar" of Paganism (expecially in its latest development - the fideist "devotional polytheism") suits perfectly well for accomplishing this amalgamation, which is likely to result in formation of new forms of religion worldwide. Living in St Petersburg, Russia, I encountered a Wiccan coven which practised a mixed form of Shinto-ish rituals in the framework of a generic Modern Pagan/Wiccan rituals (with an eight-fold Wheel of the Year, circle casting, power raising and, of course, the absence of shrines besides one home kamidana). The Kami invoked in the rituals I attended included Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi, Idzanagi/Idzanami and two creator-gods, whose names I just don't remember. The rites were conducted in Russian, with fragments of translated Nikhongi and Kodziki materials included for invocations and as script for sacred drama Taking into account, that this was possible in a country with virtually no Japanese presence, but only due to the wordwide influence of Japanese culture, it is highly likely that suchlike phenomena can be met in America whith its ethnic Japanese citizens and in other countries of the Pacific Japanese diaspora, where Japanese tradition, language and way of life gives way to a more globalized and Anglicized setting.

I love Shinto, specially for it's relationship with and respect to Nature... Also it amazes me how Zen Buddhism and Shinto get along together and how Zen Buddhism can help explain Shinto and viceversa, I absolutely adore these two traditions ☺️⛩️❤️☸️

I do love the way you present content that is provocative, posing questions, presenting evidence and arguments from different perspectives and, in the end, not providing any definitive answers to the questions (this goes for all your videos, not just this one). You leave much room for opening discussion and debate rather than closing it down. This is terrific "food for thought" as well as tools for classroom discussion! Keep up the good work! Looking forward to the next installment.

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, since this episode is based on my dissertation research, your comment made my day! 😄 --Kaitlyn, RFB Shinto series researcher/co-writer

As an Aussie, the idea of universalising kami and shinto have got me thinking about how Japan (seemingly) nearly conquered our northern lands during WWII, land that just so happens to include lots of traditionally living aboriginal people, whose spirituality is highly animist. I could imagine an alternative history where the japanese invaders syncretise shinto and dreaming spirituality as a form of imperialism and to also legitimise local beliefs so as to help win over a population whose practices were long subjugated and suppressed by anglo-australia, and thereby cultivate loyalty. I could even imagine aboriginal people embracing and defending these practices as they'd give a highly visible institutional legitimacy to their once maligned and dismissed beliefs.

Here in São Paulo the majority of Japanese descendants converted to Catholicism in the mid twentieth century. Shrines are rare however there is still influence, for example, in these people's houses sometimes there is a kamidama with catholic saints since in Brazil religions tend to acquire a syncretic characteristic. Here in my neighborhood there is a Shinto priestess works in her home and people from different ethnic/religious backgrounds search for her, very interesting.

I go to Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America every year for Hatsumōde on New Years. ⛩ 😊 It’s a beautiful place on a river.

Shinto means way of the gods, technically the pagans, wicca, Kahunas and tlamacazui also venerate kami except they are native to the Americas. Shinto is just the Japanese aesthetic. Nearly every society has had shamanistic gods. Shinto is just the Japanese name for it.

@mrmoth26

3 жыл бұрын

How are pagans native to America if they can be found around the world and venerate non American gods?

That was good. As someone who lived in Hawaii for several years, and who has lived in Japan for much longer, I would liked to have seen a bit more about Shinto in Hawaii. But still, it was good.

This was beautiful and illuminating. Thank you.

I think it depends who you ask, which seems like a cop-out answer, but this reminded me of Eastern Orthodoxy where it’s organized on national lines and certain practitioners in older generations or in the national homeland would consider foreigners converting nonsensical since this is “the Bulgarian church for Bulgarians” (or whatever national church). But clearly in practice and abroad there are many Orthodox Christians in modern societies who are not ethnically aligned with the autocephalous/national church they attend and believe.

Liking and commenting to improve your luck in the KZread algorithm. Thank you for your awesome and educational content. Much love

I am SO here for this

Maybe this American Shinto will be like how Romans accepted Jewish concepts to create a distinct Roman/Greek/Semitic religion. Forming a new form of religion.

Two videos in a month, I'm feeling spoiled. Interesting take on Shinto, I've always thought about it as something so intrinsically tied to Japanese history and the land itself that I never even thought of its potential as a universal religion.

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! When I started my research on this subject, I was really surprised and honestly a bit skeptical! But the more I learn, transnational online Shinto communities are a pretty compelling challenge to essentialist definitions of Shinto imo --Kaitlyn, RFB Shinto series researcher/co-writer

@ForgeMasterXXL

3 жыл бұрын

@@EatPrayAnime Hi Kaitlyn, I presume this was your doctoral thesis, if so could you let me know which university to contact to obtain a copy. Or have you published anything based on your research. I’m uncertain of how theses are stored outside of the UK. But aside from that I just wanted to say, you did a great job of analyzing Shinto, and have helped bring interest in it to a much wider audience. I will of course be subscribing to your channel.

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

@Rai Iwa Thank you so much for your interest! I am still conducting research for my PhD dissertation, but I have a few articles/book chapters coming out in a month or so that I'll make openly available on the internet once they're published. Since you subscribed to my channel (thank you!!), I'll drop you a comment when I've posted them. 😃 In the meantime, you might enjoy checking out the limited content on my research website www.digitalshinto.com

@ForgeMasterXXL

3 жыл бұрын

@@EatPrayAnime Thank you Kaitlyn, I really appreciate it.

@nny2055

Жыл бұрын

Yes. Shinto is basically a belief in a place. Many old Shinto believe that kami dwell in the unique nature of the area, such as mountains, forests, giant trees, and rocks. This is the basic idea of Shinto, and there are no Religious Doctrine. It's about how to deal to the Land-specific kami. Shinto was used by nations twice, when the concept of Japan country was born and once during the world wars. This will distort the way it is and people's perceptions, and some people may not like Shinto. Also, some people find it hard to understand. Even in modern times, basically everything rooted the land, nature, things, and people else can be enshrined as kami. What is important is not a precept or a teaching, but how we behave, think, and deal with the place and its history.

In my view, a religious tradition can be interpreted as indigenous or universal depending on what the specific branch is aiming for. Yoruba religion is an indigenous religion, but when transplanted to Brazil it was transformed into universal Umbanda. Even though they have a close mythology and rituals and are related geneologically, they have very different aspects when it comes to being ethnic or universal. So it seems to me that some branches of Shinto are ethnic, while others are universal

Great video! Could you make one on Mexicayotl (modern Aztec paganism)?

Omoto and Konkokyo are two examples of Shinto being practiced outside Japan. Konkokyo especially, as there are several Konko churches in the US, mostly in major cities on the east coast and Hawaii. One doesn't have to be Japanese to practice Konkokyo, nor is the Konko religion restricted to purely Japanese cultural expression.

Thank you for your good explanation about Shinto. I'm pleased with you explained well that traditional Shinto and imperial Shinto are different things. Actually, not a few numbers of Kami in Shinto came from abroad with Buddism and adopted. Hence, there is no reason to limit the Shinto religion only to indigenous, in my view. Shinto is just a way of Kami. You can practice it no matter who you are and where you are. And anything you respect or love or fear can be Kami for you.

Regrettably, the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America closed their doors at the end of June in 2023. Rev. and Mrs. Barrish moved to Florida where I'm to understand they set up a small independent shrine.

Interesting! This series is so interesting.

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

So glad to hear you think so! I definitely love it ☺--Kaitlyn, RFB Shinto series researcher/co-writer

As an European practitioner of Himalayan Vajrayana Buddhism, this is an interesting video to see. Also in the world of Himalayan Buddhism there are various interest groups and ways of thinking who either emphasize the universalism of Buddhism or people who want to keep the religion exclusive to Tibetan people. In principle Vajrayana is passed on from a teacher to student and is therefore not really ethnic in its core, but the religion is so tied to the Tibetan culture, that some might view it from the lens of ethnic exclusivity. (That said, even in the universalist camp, for a western born person to become a Buddhist Lama is a really challenging task. The lack of social support makes it hard practically and financially, and even if you would become a qualified Lama, it would be more difficult to be taken seriously by others.)

I can definitely get behind the idea of Washington and Lincoln as kami, that's just awesome.

I'm amazed to see ReligionForBreakfast do a five-part series on Shinto! And also the video on Wicca. Would love to see one for modern Druidry as well.

Outstanding video!

I'm very interested to see what would happen if Shinto got 'combined' with modern pagan movements, like Hellenism or Heathen. Honestly, from what I've heard, I feel like they would intersect very well.

The following is a rather subjective statement. For the most part I am an atheist, although I have some spiritual tendencies. I tend to see some value in the veneration of nature. At least I see the value of nature itself, and thinking about it in a sense of being inhabited or intertwined with Kami. When I was in Japan in late 2019 , I happened to come across a small Shinto Shrine on a small cliff on the shore of lake Kawaguchiko with a magnificent view on Mount Fuji, and I decided there an then to say a small prayer for the flora and fauna of my home. Since there wasn’t water or smoke for purification I used water from a bottle, that I had on me. In this regard I think Shinto very well can be in part at least universal, since there is nature all over the world. I mean I am not to much in the matter, it’s more like a very broad and shallow interpretation of Shinto, a feeling or to put it more or less contemporary a vibe rather than a belief, but I think that in part Shinto has some great aspects that resonate with me, which make it universal to me and also make it possible to practice it in a somewhat atheistic yet spiritual(-light) way. Amazing content by the way. I really enjoy this series and hope that you might find the time for some single videos on Shinto after you’ve finished the series.

I formative & interesting presentation!

Amazing edit at 4:00. Groundbreaking stuff.

There's a similar universalist phenomena occurring in the modern reconstructionist Norse/Germanic polytheistic religion. The core similarities between the Shinto religion and the Forn Sedr ( old ways) of the Northern Tradition are amazing. I really look forward to seeing how this develops in our future! Thank you for this KZread article.

This was fascinating! ogasawara shozo seems like a cool dude.

Since Shinto is about performing rituals, I think anyone who performed a ritual at a shrine of his/her volition may be a Shinto "believer". I'm hoping to be able to go to Japan and visit a shrine.

I'm a convinced atheist, but i like to learn how thinking is molded, with culture and religion in simbiosis with society. You certainly make great education content with a lot of implication with it. More work like this is needed.

I wish I could turn on your notifications :( love the video :)

It will be a blessing. I hate organized religion. Promotion of any other religion is good for the world.

This was very informative, I used to be heavily involved in Shinto religion as a child but I do not identify with the kamis and shrines as much anymore, but I still go to shrines regularly, but do not see it as a part of my Japanese identity.

It’s a good day when religion for breakfast posts a video

Hey RFB, long time watcher, first time commenter. Think you could do a video on Eliphas Levi? Him and his writings are super interesting and influencial and there's hardly anything of good quality on KZread about it. Keep up the great work!

This is incredibly interesting and relevant to me. I've been wanting to create my own terrible light novel and part of it would need shinto in the us.

First of all, Many Kami are Indian gods/goddesses, because when Japanese embraced Buddhism, many Hindi deities were also introduced. In the animistic worldview, Supernatural beings, people, Animals, Plants, Natural phenomena, Man-made objects, and even fictitious things, are part of the universe more or less equally, and they all communicate with each other.

@kddiodox

2 жыл бұрын

You are all confused, no kami is of hindu origin..... buddhist gods of hindu origin, these are called Devas and a minor category way behind the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, in Japanese Devas are 天 ( ten), they are just a minority inside the Buddhist pantheon, even because Budhdism isn't about gods, just 1 true Hindu god got popular in Japan and this is Benzaiten. Bishamonten on the other hand is just a disguised Chinese practice of defying past lives of military commanders with a pseudo-sanskrit root that was transmitted to Japan

The progression and evolution of the social dynamics and worldview of Shinto is fascinating. I wonder if it will give us insights into the psychological, social, and political evolution of polytheism and various cults (in the academic sense, not the NRM sense) in human history.

I'm a follower of Shinto and have a kamidana shelf dedicated to Amaterasu omikami sama, uka mitama okami sama, ame no uzume no mikoto sama and Sarutahiko-no mikoto sama. I follow a few Shinto groups on Facebook. And actually follow the Kannagara Shinto shrine of Kissimmee Florida which is where Koichi Barrish Sensei is located at now that he turned the grand Tsubaki shrine of North America over to a Shinto Shrine of Victoria Canada to maintain. I will tell you that Shinto is a both indigenous and universal. It has been the desire for Shinto although a Japanese spiritual path to reach out to the world. Unfortunately it was done the wrong way especially in the late 19th century and 20th century especially during World War 2. The followers of Shinto in Japan that had advocated pacifism were suppressed especially in world war 2. It I believe it was always meant to reach out to the rest of the world to spread information about living in harmony with nature and with others something that religions such as Christianity, Judaism and Islam failed to do. Yes I support Koichi Barrish Sensei and others views that it is meant to be universal. However still rooted in Japanese mythology, folklore, and culture. Great video ❤

Absolutely loving the Shinto series, it's definitely something I wanted to read more on! Currently doing a university project on Gnosticism and Mary Magdalene, but I love watching your Shinto content when I'm having my breaks :)

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying the series! Let me know if you ever need reading suggestions ;) --Kaitlyn, RFB Shinto series researcher/co-writer

@dashingtherouxthesnow4017

3 жыл бұрын

@@EatPrayAnime I'm more than open to suggestions! Shinto is probably the religion I know the least about. Please let me know if there's any good literature :)

@EatPrayAnime

3 жыл бұрын

@@dashingtherouxthesnow4017 A great and not too cliche way to start reading about Shinto would be to pick up a copy of John Breen and Mark Teeuwen’s “A New History of Shinto.” It does a great job of introducing fundamental info in an accessible way while also pointing out some problematic trends in previous scholarship on Shinto. If you’re looking for a more dense and historical text, Helen Hardacre’s 2016 “Shinto: A History” is THE history of Shinto in English now. 😁

I mean, if they're practicing shinto rituals, hold shinto beliefs, have shinto shrines, and call themselves shinto, then they're obviously shinto? Maybe a new sect of shinto, but definitely shinto.

@kirstencorby8465

3 жыл бұрын

This made me laugh. I have had the exact same conversation about Wicca. What is or isn't Wicca? Who gets to say?

@uteriel282

2 жыл бұрын

americans do the same thing all the time with christianity. dont like how the other existing groups do their thing? just form a new group then and make up your own rules. complaining about people building shinto shrines around the world is just hypocricy when christians, jews and muslims build their places of worship wherever they please without regards how others feel about it.

Shinto is definitely indigenous to Japan. Something can be transported elsewhere, but that doesn't stop it from being indigenous to where it originated from. You can see this with all manner of plants and animals that have an indigenous location yet can be transported or migrate elsewhere.

I think that, like Buddhism or Jediism, Shintoism is private and informal enough that you don't have the dogma and negativity of more established and traditional religions like Islam and Christianity while still getting that spiritual fulfillment and a way to connect with the greater universe. I would say that the answer to whether or not Shintoism is an indigenous tradition or universal is like the answer to whether or not Shintoism is a religion as Westerners view it. And that answer is: it's complicated. Shintoism has definite roots in the Japanese people and has large cultural influences which make it uniquely indigenous to Japan. However, the ideology is easily adapted into the cultures of others, which makes it very universal. I guess Obi-wan is right when he says that everything is true "from a certain point of view".

I love shinto and ninpo so much!!! Changed my life

I love that you pronounced Kamehameha like Goku... I also am flabbergasted that the shrine here venerates washington and lincoln,lol..

Kami are simply powerful spirits, Hachiman and Tenjin who are some of the most popuar kami for all of Japan, were originally Emporer Ojin and scholar Sugawara-No-Michizane, all real people. Kami aren’t some small group of intangible all powerful gods like how western religions such as Christianity and Paganism view their deities. Theres nothing absurd about Japanese-Americans doing the same to people as influential as George Washington Abe Lincoln and King Kamehameha in Hawaii.

This reminds me of saint Bridgette being an adaptation of an old goddess or how the Romans imported and equated gods.

@faithlesshound5621

3 жыл бұрын

The Irish/Roma St Bridget/Brigid/Kali is not the only Christian adoption. The Virgin Mary owes a lot to Diana/Artemis, the "Mother of Gods." Flying under the radar, or over the roof, is Ma'at, the Egyptian goddess of justice, who was placed in the Roman pantheon as Justicia by Augustus and still presides over Western courts as the blindfolded Lady Justice.

Many faiths share beliefs with Shintoism, whether they realize it or not. Shintoism is extremely adaptable, hence why it meshed with Buddhism. It also highly resembles the animism and shamanism of world cultures.

Question: this means that a Winchester riffle with 100 years in a museum could become a tsukumogami?

I was going to say that in many parts of asia, shinto shrines had left a bad taste because of being associated with the occupations during wwii, but you did bring that up too.

My grasp of Shinto is twofold: Shrine Shinto is an organized religion and there are many rules of what to do and not to do in common behavior and ritual, but according to Motohisa Yamakage the Way of Kami is maintained through stories and rituals passed down through families and communities making for an amorphous common identity of 'Shinto' but being really hard to pin down as to what it is or isn't. Yamakage also argues that blind observation of ritual without sincere Faith and Communion with Kami or Divine is an imitation of Shinto and not to the Spirit of Kami. He also believes Shinto can and should be adapted to other cultures and spiritualities as wished by an individual so long as it's done with sincerity. So to him, one can be Christian and Shinto and have no contradiction. I'm inclined to agree as I see Kami and Angels as compatible experience. Baptism and Misoji do after all have common ritual and purpose. If Shinto is viewed as a shamanic tradition that has become formalized, we can see that Shinto and virtually all indigenous spiritual traditions throughout the globe have a commonality. One could argue that the many Native American spiritual traditions are Shinto and similarly vice versa. And then we could get into esoteric healing methods such as Reiki and see that it carries Shinto practices and even spontaneously regains Shinto qualities lost through international transmission. Again thanks for the education 🙏☮️

haven’t seen anyone else but adam neely do that epic transition at 4:00

The buildings look so beautiful

Bold of you to use the Greenough statue of Washington at 8:17.

Love this place!

Heyo, can you do a video on Chinese Folk Religion? I haven't seen much talk of it.

The Japanese have always taken foreign things and made them their own. Recently, they reversed the process to some extent with anime, etc. Now perhaps it's happening with their religion.

@epsilonxvi5675

Жыл бұрын

in east asia abrahamic religion is look down because too violent.

What I primarily understood about Shinto is that you can worship kami characterized by a particular local landmark and those certainly are universal. It sounds like it's in an in between state between indigenous Japanese and universal, but could easily make the jump to something more universal.

I like it. It seems like a tradition that fits anyone's ancestors or persons from the past. Idk how G Washington would feel about it but but i bet he could be convinced if phrased to him right.

👍 good video

Crazy how this channel's take on religion is completely different from what my university's religious studies was teaching. Modern western/protestant take on religion seems so alien(to us).

My daughter inlaw practices this,she has a morning ritual. I dont know if my japanese canadian grandchildren will be shinto. They are learning japanese language. I find your channel very interesting, thanks

I'm confused at why it's hard to believe a religion can be both universal and indigenous. Isn't every religion indigenous to somewhere but lots have become somewhat universal?

@carmichaelree

3 жыл бұрын

No. A better term is ethnic-religion or folk-religion. Europe for example has an ancient religion which has always been ethnic based, now modern Wiccans and self proclaimed "neopagans" are attempting to globalize the religion and thus denigrate its authenticity.

I wish I had more time in the world. There'd be so much I'd like to research, religion being one of them. Although I sometimes disagree with your takes, especially on neopagan faiths, I appreciate your work. Also, for the question: I think that Shinto is now, since the 19th century both an indigenous and a universal religion.

I'm honestly not surprised. With how much japanese culture has been introduced to the western world, I could easily see shinto spreading across the seas and taking root. Whether or not it will be widespread is another thing, however.

I think you shoud have focused more on the number 8 and infinity. In discussing the symbolic importance of the number "8" in Shintoism, seen in concepts like 八百万の神 (Yaoyorozu no Kami), 八咫烏 (Yatagarasu), and 八岐大蛇 (Yamata no Orochi), it's crucial to recognize its association with infinity and its significance in Eastern philosophy. The Kanji form of "8"、八 suggests openness and infinity, a notion originating from China. And the number "8" in it's written form, originated in India and Hinduism, on its sideways symbolizes infinity, blending mathematical, spiritual, and existential meanings. A foundational argument in Shintoism is that if gods are infinite, they don’t start with an ‘A’ and end with a ‘Z’; there are no boundaries to what can or cannot be considered divine. This logic suggests that humans, stones, or even the bones of dead fish cannot definitively be said to lack divinity, reflecting a belief system without strict separations between the sacred and the mundane. Following this, the notion of 八百万の神, while often translated as “eight million gods,” more fittingly expresses an endless pantheon, showcasing the infinite diversity within Shinto spirituality. Similarly, 八岐大蛇 isn’t just a mythical serpent but represents the complex and boundless nature of evil, mirroring the concept of infinite malevolence in various religious narratives. This emphasis on infinity is central not only to Shintoism but also to Buddhism and other non-Abrahamic religions, underscoring a global endeavor to understand the infinite facets of existence and divinity. Philosophical explorations, like those by Spinoza, further illuminate this perspective, proposing that divinity permeates all aspects of the natural world, from the mundane to the extraordinary. The term “god” might not adequately convey the breadth of what “Kami” means in Shintoism, which refers to a broad spectrum of divine spirits or essences, distinct from the monotheistic interpretations prevalent in Western traditions. Therefore, adopting “Kami” rather than “god” offers a more precise and respectful understanding of the profound spirituality embedded in these Eastern traditions.

@lecaprice2572

4 күн бұрын

My goodness! This is an absolutely profound explanation! As a person of non-Japanese origin (in this lifetime) who participates in a non-state form of esoteric Shintoism, about 1500 colleagues were at a hotel facility in a major U.S. city last weekend. The vast majority were non-Japanese (perhaps 80%), honoring our 50th anniversary in America. This particular esoteric stream is indirectly related to a handful of other relatively contemporary revivals in the late 19th and early 20th Century. These esoteric streams were specifically suppressed by the Japanese Government just before and during the war. There are probably more than one reason for the suppression but I feel that some of them may have been as follows: 1. They take the ancient Takeuchi documents (and related ones) seriously as the true narrative of ancient and ultra ancient times. For peculiar and unspoken reasons the wartime Government was adamantly opposed to these documents and related beliefs being made accessible to the public 2. There is a very universalist nature to these beliefs as one explores deeper and deeper and there is also an urgent messianic message for the contemporary world 3. There are syncretic elements in harmony with certain elements of esoteric Buddhism and esoteric (and suppressed) Christianity; i.e., reincarnation is taken seriously to to the point that followers become pacifist as they realize all too well that any violence against others will be revisited upon the perpetrator I should probably not be revealing too much more for reasons of brevity (and the probable disinterest of most people), however, there is a very good American scholar on the Academia website who knows about the foregoing and who has written an objective study on the subject. ❤

Defining Shinto within the context of an indigenous tradition with universal appeal seems to be both most accurate and most favourable.

When I was in Japan, I observed people bowing when they were going through Shinto gates. At some point I started doing the same because I wasn't sure if it would be wrong to not. It grew in me, later friend showed me how to pray and all and I really liked it. I don't believe in gods, spirits or even luck but the whole idea have very distressful atmosphere and that would explain why Japanese, even so don't believe in it either, like to take part in all practices. It definitely could be a global religion. The casual, distressful and non-committal atmosphere it provides really fits the modern world. Heck, I probably would take a part sometimes if I had one close to me 😅