Shintoism: Strengths and Weaknesses

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The Japanese culture has been greatly influenced by its religions, and one of the most influential religions has been Shintoism. Shintoism has been dated back to 500BC, when the descendants of the sun goddess, Amaterasu-OmiKami, worshiped the gods and goddesses of Japan. Shinto means "way of the gods" and that represents what people who practice Shintoism believe in. Shintoism is a religion based on Japanese mythology, which is centered on a male god, Izanagi, and a female goddess, Izanami. These two gods were believed to have created Japan, which was thought to be the only land in the whole word. The two gods had two children, the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the storm god, Susanowo. These two gods fought over control of the people of Japan, and the sun goddess won control over them. This belief that a goddess had more control than a god is part of the custom for women having control over men in Japan. Shintoism in Japan has shown many strengths, and very few weaknesses, since its inception and one of its greatest strengths is its belief in Kami or spirits (Scott Olenik, pg 8-10)

Shintoism embraces a strong affinity for nature and this is very apparent in the way the Japanese people worship the Kami (Hooker, para 4). There are many kinds of Kami that each inhabits a different part of nature. There is a Kami for rocks, trees, people, sake and even tobacco (Hooker, para 4). It is the Shinto belief that humans become Kami when they die and pass on from this world (Hooker, para 4). Communicating with the Kami is an essential part of the Shinto religion. An outdoor gate or torii is the entrance to a Shinto shrine (Hooker, para 4). When someone approaches a torii, it is custom to bow before entering (Nakano, para 5). Th...

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... life would change without Shintoism.

Works Cited

Hooker, Richard. "Early Shinto." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. 14 Feb. 2010 http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCJAPAN/SHINTO.HTM

Nakano, Hiroko. "The Shinto Shrine." Kateigaho International Edition - Japanese culture, arts, lifestyle magazine. 14 Feb. 2010 http://int.kateigaho.com/aut04/kyoto-shinto-shrine.html

. "Shinto, Shintoism - ReligionFacts." Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the facts on the world's religions. 14 Feb. 2010 http://www.religionfacts.com/shinto/index.htm

. "Shintoism, Shinto." Public Services - Social, Religious, Scientific, Products, Environment. 14 Feb. 2010 http://mb-soft.com/believe/txo/shintois.htm

Smitha, Frank. "Power and Class in Japan, 500 to 1500 CE." MacroHistory : World History. 14 Feb. 2010 http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h07japan.htm

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