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Origins

• Shintoism and Animism worship spirits in nature
• They both do not have specific founders
• Animism was/is practiced widely throughout the world but particularly in Africa
• Shintoism originated in Japan and means "way of the gods"
• Both are polythesitic

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Sects



• 13 sects of Shintoism
• 4 main branches - State Shinto, Sece Shinto, Shrine Shinto, and Folk Shinto
• Shintoism started in 500 BCE and its origin is in Japan

Beliefs

• Animism is the oldest belief system​
• Shintoism's major beliefs are in Kami - mountains, rivers, plants and animals have spirits​
• Shintoism teaches that every human has an eternal soul and spirit
  
• Shinto places of worship are called Shrines
  
• The Grand Shrine of Ise is the most holy Shinto site in Japan
  

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Present Day

• New Year Festival is the biggest Shinto festival of many
• 30-100 days after babies are born, they are brought to the shrine
• The building of the Shrine is better than before
• The Gate marks the gateway between the physical and spiritual world
• People seek support from Shinto by praying at a home alter or visiting shrines
• Still widely practiced in Japan

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Issues

• Buddhism was imported into Japan and influenced the government
• Animism which was practiced in Africa, as viewed as "primitive" by European imperialists as they colonized areas there
  
• Shintoism was turned into nationalistic "State Shinto" under Emperor Meiji and remained that way until after World War 2