The Assembly of Religions: What We're Learning About Shinto

The Shinto groups are teaching me a ton about the history and beliefs of Japan's traditional religion:

1. Shinto means "the way of the kami." Kami are the spiritual powers that are believed to exist in the natural world.

2. For thousands of years, Japan's emperor and his family were believed to have descended from the Sun goddess, Amaterasu.

3. Many Japanese people consider themselves both Shinto and Buddhist.

4. Only the Shinto priests are allowed to enter the Inner Hall of their shrines, because people believe that kami live within the Hall.

5. White horses are viewed as sacred in Japan because one of the first Japanese emperors gave a white horse to a Shinto shrine, as an offering to the kami.

This is the current Emperor of Japan, Naruhito. He is deeply respected, but he does make actual political decisions.

They are also asking some interesting deep questions:

Charlie: What is the relationship between Shintoism and Buddhism? Is everyone who follows Shinto also a Buddhist? Are the followers of Shintoism and Buddhist sometimes rivals?

Chaney: Something I like about the Shinto religion is that the main god is actually a goddess. Does this change people's perspectives about the religion?

Caroline: Are kami alive within you? Can kami have kami? And do kami die, or do they live forever?