Questions Shinto Fall 2007

Page number in bold print refer to the 8th edition of Fisher, Living Religions

Italicized page numbers refer to the 7th edition of Fisher, Living Religions.

Non-italicized page numbers refer to 6th edition of Fisher, Living Religions.

Italicized page numbers (in parentheses) refer to the 5th edition of Fisher, Living Religions.

            I divide each page up into 30 lines and estimate approximately the line that the citation refers to. When you see something like 201.20, for example, this is my notation that the citation is approximately on line 20 of page 201.

 

SHINTOISM

ETHICAL

 

1. What are the basic myths or origin stories (cosmogony) associated with the religion?

            219.10 216.12-17 209.1-5  (218.4) from amorphous matter sprang a reedshoot; a deity came forth from which came many kami (spirits).

2. What virtues does the religion advocate?

            219.30 217.15 212.8  (221.20) kannagara, bringing life into harmony with nature

            229.7-8 225.9  217.15  (226.30) honesty, compassion, and purity (pre-Meiji regime)

3. Does the religion prescribe a way to enlightenment or salvation? If so, what does it call this state?

             228.30 219.30  (228.26) seeing the divine in the midst of nature

4. Does the religion hold that everyone or only some people can attain enlightenment or salvation?
 

            230.15 226.16  218.10  (227.30) The term “Shinto” is applied to shrines mainly by the priestly establishment in Japan today

5. Does the religion hold that clerics belong to a higher moral or spiritual order than lay people?

            223.22 219.18 211.18  (220.30)  priesthood was traditionally hereditary

            (in Constitution of Prince Shotoku, Sources I, 47-48)

POLITICAL:

SHINTOISM

7. What are the major political divisions of the religion? (In Christianity, for example, major divisions would be Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicanism and Protestantism.)

            229.29 226.3-226.10  217.27-218.5  (227.15-25) Sects: Oomoto (see quote)—a universalist approach

8. Does the religion have a central authority that determines orthodox beliefs?

            228.15 224.20 216.20  (225.27) Yes, under State Shinto

9. Has the religion at any point in its history accepted the status of an official state religion?

228-230 224-226 216-218  (225-227) The emperor was declared (since the seventh century) the offspring of the sun goddess Amaterasu

10. Does the religion accept a just war or does it advocate non-violence?

11. Does the religion accept spiritual leaders--such as ordained clergy, shamans, and the like?

            228.26-227.3 224.27-225.5 216.25-30  (226.25) Tension between government officials and priests

12. Does the religion take a position on class division in society?

            228.15 224.17 216.16  (225.25) Shares with Confucianism an emphasis on hierarchy.

13. What is the role of women in the religion? Has the role changed over the years?

            223.25 219.18 211.22  (221.2) Both men and women are Shinto priests and priestesses

14. Does the religion permit a married clergy?

            223.26 219.19  211.24  (221.2)  yes

15. Has the religion increased or decreased in numbers during the past century?

(228.20) Modern life has renewed interest in Shintoism.

230-233 226-229  218-219  (227-228)  See Shinto Today section

16. Does the religion advocate social engagement or personal salvation—or both? If both, which is given greater emphasis?

230.10 226.8 218.5  (227.25) Oomoto: encourages self-examination, environmental restoration, and global religious cooperation.
 

METAPHYSICAL
 

17. Does the religion accept a belief in a soul, spirit, or the like?

            219.12 216.12 209.1  (218.6) Kami

18. Does the religion hold there is one God (monotheism), many gods (polytheism), or no god (nontheism)?

            219.16 216.20 209.8  (218.15) Kami singular or plural, not an image but a quality

            219.20 219.10-14 210.26-30  (220.27) No image

20. Does the religion hold that God is something to strive for?                                     

            220.3-10 217.18-25 212.8-15  (221.21-26) Yes. Living according to the natural flow of the universe.

22. What position does the religion take on the question of belief in an afterlife or immortality--such as heaven, hell, and reincarnation?

            218.28 215.28 208.15  (217.20) (box) To be fully alive

23. Does the religion accept that the ultimate reality is (or could be) female?
 

             219.14 216.15 209.6  (218.10) The goddess of the sun, Amaterasu, rules this earthly kingdom.

INSTITUTIONAL

SHINTOISM

24. Does the religion regard a particular locale (land, city, and so forth) as holy or sacred?

            218.15 215.25 207.30  (217.15) Mount Fuji   picture on 215

            222.1 218.15 210.10  (219.15) Sacred trees or groves

            223.4 218.26  210.18  (219.25) Waterfalls, etc.

25. Does the religion have special places or locations for worship?

            220-223 217-219 210  219 shrines 

            Sources I, 262.12  Ise Shrine is the holiest

            222.9 218.21 210.15  (219.20) temples

26. What are the religion's major holy days or festivals?

223-225 219-220 214-215( 224-225) personal, seasonal

Sources I, 262.10 Great Thanksgiving Festival

27. What are the basic doctrines of the religion?

            218-219 215-216 207.25  (216.25) kinship with nature;

            232.27-233.7 229.5-12 220.5-12  (229.25-230.4) preservation of nature

29. What are the major texts or sacred documents?

            Sources I, 12 Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters); Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan)

30. What attitude does the religion advocate toward other religions? Is it exclusivist or universalist?

            227.18 223.20 215.20  (225.10) Integrates with Buddhism and Confucianism

            231.20-24 228.26-30 219.26  (228.25)  “Some Shinto adherents now explain their path as a universal natural religion, rather than an exclusively Japanese phenomenon, and try to explain the way of harmony with the kami without striving for conversions.”

31. What is the nature of the service, ceremonies, or worship (format, participation of congregation)?

            223-225 219-220 211-212  (220-221)

            227 222 213  box   misogi   waterfall purification ritual

225.25 221.6 213  box  tsumi  impurity or misfortune

227.7 221.22 214.7  (223.20) oharai  “Shinto purification ceremony”

            231.8 226.21 218.17  (228.10) “Long established households still have their kami shelf, often next to the Buddhist family altar, which combines tablets memorializing the dead with scrolls or statues dedicated to a manifestation of the Buddha.”

 

32. Who is regarded as the founder of the religion?

            217.20 214.20 207.17  (216.20) no founder

33. Does the religion actively seek converts through missionary activity?
 

            218.10  227.27 no;

            231.21 227.4 219.26  (228.27)

EXPERIENTIAL:

SHINTOISM

34. What is the religion’s position on prayer, meditation, exorcism, chants and dance?

            225-227 221-223 212-214  221-222

            Sources I, 261 norito

35. What are some individual practices—such as confession?

224.3 219.22 211.25  (221.10) no personal prayers, but a “reverent recognition of the close relationship between the Kami, the ancestors, the people, and nature”

36. What are the religion’s attitudes toward healing and health—such as laying on of hands, “faith healing,” and the like?

            225 221 212.15  (221.25) purification

            225.15 221.7 212.20  (222.1) No concept of sin, but impurity or misfortune