African American And Shinto Similarities

Contemporary Indigenous spiritual paths are paths that people do today, in which could be

a part of things that used to be done with our ancestors. We may do some or believe in the same

things or ideas as other have in the past. There are many similarities in the Shinto, African, and

Native American spiritual paths that used to be done long ago.

Shinto is an indigenous belief, by the Japanese, that they were to worship “...the sun,

mountains, trees, water, rocks, and the whole process of fertility” (Kumagai, 1995). They also were

more concerned with the here and now, as well as “...everyday life” (Kumagai, 1995). Moving

forward to current day, they still support the ideal of appreciating nature and life. They celebrate

life by having parties for weddings and family life. They do not have major concern for the future,

instead they are focused on living in these days with a major focus on children.

In the African Indigenous church they followed the lines of rituals, and believing in following

the holy spirit and the Bible. Over time, they formed churches and followers that took on the same

belief system. To be a member you have to agree to follow the direction of the church and be

baptized (Asare-Danso, 2011). They adopt many rituals as early times, for women, wearing

covering over their face and body is must. They also do not allow women to have a major role in

the leadership. They have rituals of washing their feet for communion (Asare-Danso, 2011).

Native American traditions have served as a positive force to bring one with nature. They

see every part of nature as being a life form. Long ago, they had native healers that were one with

the earth, and today we call them therapists. Since Native Americans have been around, they

have to continue to stand up for their beliefs. Many non Native Americans want to take away the

type of traditional values with respecting the earth and all that it brings. Being one with nature and

animals is also a belief that they have had and still continue to try to keep that at the forefront

of

their belief system.

In many religions there are similarities of how they worshipped or participated in a religion

as it is today. If they were close with nature before, they still have that foundation and do not sway

from it much. They have that attachment to due to being familiar with it and a sense of attachment

to their ancestors. Although roles do change where some religions adapt to more modern ideas,

others want to continue with tradition.

References:

Asare-Danso, S.(2011). Spirituality in an African Indigenous Church: the case of the Saviour

Church of Ghana. Ogbomoso Journal of Theology, 16(1), 127-147.

Greenberg, J.H. (2013). Native American traditions, depth psychology, and postcolonial theory.

Journal for The Study of Religion. Native and Culture, 7 (1). 88-111.doi 10.1558/jsrnc.v71.88.

Kumagai, F. (1996). Families in Japan: Beliefs and realities. Journal of Comparative Family Studies,

26135-163