What is the key concept in Shintoism?
The main beliefs of Shinto are the importance of purity, harmony, respect for nature, family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group. There are many Shinto gods or spirits and these have shrines dedicated to them where people offer food, money and prayers.
What do followers of Shintoism believe?
Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami.
What does Shinto stand for?
Read a brief summary of this topic The word Shintō, which literally means “the way of kami” (generally sacred or divine power, specifically the various gods or deities), came into use in order to distinguish indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism, which had been introduced into Japan in the 6th century ce.
What are the symbols of Shintoism?
The six Shinto symbols we will be covering today are “torii,” “shimenawa,” “shide,” “sakaki,” “tomoe,” and “shinkyo.”
How does Shintoism respect on physical world?
Shinto holds that nature has a sense of power and presence that is inescapable and beyond human control or understanding, but sensible in our encounters with it. Its respect to the mystery of nature thus presents to us an alternative way of treating our relationship with nature.
What is the morality of Shintoism?
Shinto has no moral absolutes and assesses the good or bad of an action or thought in the context in which it occurs: circumstances, intention, purpose, time, location, are all relevant in assessing whether an action is bad.
What is a follower of Shinto called?
Scholars sometimes call its practitioners Shintoists, although adherents rarely use that term themselves. Shinto has no central authority in control and much diversity exists among practitioners.
What are the 4 affirmations of Shinto?
There are four affirmations in Shinto: tradition and family, love of nature, physical cleanliness, and matsuri (festivals in which worship and honor is given to the kami). The family is seen as the main mechanism in preserving traditions.
What are the core teachings of Shintoism?
Shinto teaches that human beings are fundamentally good but can be made to do bad things by ‘evil spirits’. These spirits can exist in trees, animals, mountains, rivers, human creations such as cups or musical instruments, and even in people. Within the Shinto religion, these spiritual powers are called Kami.
Why is purity important in Shintoism?
Purity is at the heart of Shinto’s understanding of good and evil. Impurity in Shinto refers to anything which separates us from kami, and from musubi, the creative and harmonising power. The things which make us impure are tsumi – pollution or sin.
What is the golden rule of Shintoism?
The Golden Rule or law of reciprocity is the principle of treating others as one would wish to be treated. It is a maxim of altruism seen in many human religions and human cultures. “The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your own form.”
Does Shinto believe in karma?
Interpreted as musubi, a view of karma is recognized in Shinto as a means of enriching, empowering and life affirming.