Shinto
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Mediators between Kami and the People: What is the position of the Shinto priests?
Shinto is a unique polytheistic religion in Japan based on ancestral rituals and nature worship. According to Japanese mythology, the Imperial Family and many other clans are descended from the kami 神, so successive emperors have important roles as the priest-kings. Shinto shrines have a strong regional character, and unlike monotheistic churches, each has its own traditions and ways of thinking, which are completely different from those of monotheistic churches. As Shrines Shinto, the most common and traditional Shinto, has no specific doctrines or scriptures, no absolute precepts and no guru, so understanding the reality of the faith can be difficult, especially for people who have never visited Japan. Kami…
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Refreshments, Art, and Play: Reflections on Community Service
When visiting the UK last summer my wife was surprised by our experience of churches. They had art exhibitions, offerings of cake, tea and coffee, and perhaps the most impactful for my wife were the areas within church buildings where children could play with toys and read. One church we visited was running a Beatrix Potter exhibition – by its very nature child-centric – that combined many of the above noted elements (refreshments, art, and play) leaving a deep impression. These features appeared to the two of us to be services for the public good, which were offered regardless of the religious beliefs or intentions behind the organisers or the…
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A Shinto Shrine’s Storytelling Strategy
In postwar Japanese society, the increase in population brought about major changes in the social environment, such as the “examination race” and the “baby boom.” In response to these changes, people increasingly visited Shinto shrines to pray at life’s milestones, such as “omiyamairi” (a baby’s first shrine visit), “Shichi-Go-San” (ceremonies at the ages of seven, five, and three), passing entrance exams and weddings. In other words, shrines have promoted a homogeneous and unusual approach to life rituals in response to the social conditions of a growing population. In recent years, however, Japanese society has experienced an accelerated population decline, falling birthrates, and an ageing population, and the operation of Shinto shrines…
