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

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

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