5. A SHINTO WORLDVIEW
Dr. Earl Parvin
2018
INTRODUCTION
The fact that Japan is a major power in the Far East adds to the importance of understanding a Shinto Worldview. Although Buddhism is a major religion in Japan [85%], Shintoism is the State Religion [90%]. Being a Shintoist in Japan is tantamount to being a Japanese citizen in good standing. It requires respecting the national holidays at the Shinto shrines. Shintoism is a minor world religion with only 2.7 million followers, in comparison to Hinduism and Buddhism. However, its Worldview differs dramatically from that of the other religious Worldviews.
Japan, the land of the ‘Rising Sun’, is a country made up of 6,800 Islands, although two of the Islands make up most of the declining & aging population of 128 million [2018]. Japan has one of the highest per capita incomes, educational accievement and life expectancy of 85. However satisfaction with life is declining, suicide rate is climbing and most Japanese claim to be tired of the religions which primarily hold services on national holidays or family observances by appointment. Japanese Family Life is in serious transition. Young people are putting off marriage until late twenties and tend to live at home until their thirties. This phenomenon is called ‘Parasite Singles’. Respect of elders is on the decline.
In the US there are 25,000 Shintoists. Many live in Hawaii, the playground of Japan.
To understand why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1945, and why we unleashed an atomic bomb on their cities requires an understanding of their Shinto Worldview. [Why would a gnat attact an elephant?].
One needs to understand that the Japanese were carefully taught that the Emperor was considered Divine, could do not do any wrong, ruling over a theocracy. All the land is considered ‘holy’ with certain places being especially powerful as indicated by the erection of a Torii, [two vertical poles with cross members as a ‘gateway’ to especially powerful gods]. The concept of the gateway is reminiscent of Jacob’s dream of “the gate of heaven” [Gen 28:17] or Babylon which means the “gate of god”.
A Shinto shrine is a relatively simple structure with no image or god in sight. Within the Shrine somewhere hidden away will be some significant, powerful item, [Animistic] such as a mirror, signifying the god of the Shrine. Outside the Shrine may be paper items fluttering on a string, containing written prayers to the gods. There may be a wash basin for cleansing. There will be a place to leave an offering. [No place for congregation to meet or sit]
Shintoism is a combination of three major religions in Japan. Comparing these religions to a tree, Shinto is said to be the root, Confucianism the stem and branches while Buddhism is the flowers and fruits. Confucianism provided Japan with its ethics, law and political organizations. Buddhism gave Japan its religious philosophy and Shinto its indigenous or folk religion. Most Japanese pay lip service to all three religions, however, in reality this means as a Shintoist, he attends the shrines on holidays, is married and buried in Buddhist tradition and daily attends to the home shrine in homage to his ancestors as a Confucianist. Burial after cremation is in a crypt in the Buddhist shrine as close to the image of the Buddha as he can afford.
THE PRESUPPOSITIONS:
1. THE NECESSITY OF FAITH
Remember the definition of faith. “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence”. The Japanese child was taught from birth the importance of reverencing the Emperor as god, the land of Japan as especially created by the gods and thus holy ground, reverencing the ancestors by paying homage to them in the home, and the importance of pilgrimages to sacred Shrines. When America humbled Japan after their attack on Pearl Harbor, forcing the Emperor to renounce his divinity, the people of Japan were nearly demoralized. However, the islands are still considered the land of the Rising Sun and holy ground.
In sect Shinto the practice of Shamanistic rites and faith healing require faith in a charismatic figure and the Shinto pantheon of gods, including the emperor cult. The purification rite is a cleansing from evil and mystic experience. Some rites include ‘ordeals’ such as fire-walking and trial by hot water.
2. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD[s] = KAMI
Early Japanese history included the imperial cult which meant the Emperor was Divine or God.
Today, there are many [8 million] gods called kami, in Shinto. [Note: Hinduism has 330 M]. The supreme deity in Shinto is Amarterasu, the sun goddess. The term Shinto means ‘the way of the gods’. Kami is defined as anything that is capable of conveying the sacred. Kami are in fact animistic, who indwell inanimate as well as animate objects. In the Shinto Mountain Sects it is believed the gods dwell in the mountains. In Shinto, it is believed that the dead [such as war dead, important leaders] become spirit gods. There are 80,000 shrines and 20,000 priests officiating. It is believed that the Yasukuni Shrine has 2,460,000 enshrined gods.
Shinto means, the ‘Way of the Gods’. [Note: Jn 14:6 teaches that Jesus is The Way. Matthew 7:13-14 reveals that there is a “Narrow and Broad Way”].
There are three holy mountains: Mt Fuji, Mt Tate & Mt Haku, with their many Kami. Each has its attraction for the ‘Power of the Spirits of the Dead’ or the ‘Sacred Water’ or the summit shrines where a priest may give a special blessing.
PAPER SPIRITS are pieces of paper folded intricately – never cut in reverence for the tree kami, hanging on Shinto Shrines
Shinto is said to be an ancient undeveloped, primitive religion centering on nature deities and deified people who become Kami or Gods.
3. THE WORDS OF THE GODS
There is no sacred book equivalent to the Bible, but there are three sources of Shinto Religious Literature. The most important would be the Kojiki, or Records of Ancient Matters. These Ancient Matters have been heavily borrowed from Chinese history and culture and were understood to be full of errors. After revision, three volumes emerged. The first recounts the mythological origin of the ‘divine pair’ from whom are born most of the numerous gods with their long and honorific titles, celebrated in Japan. The second volume recounts the unbroken line of emperors descended from Amateraso, the sun goddess, giving rise to the belief in the divinity of the emperor. This idea was taught in the public schools, in the army, resulting in the fanatical religious and patriotic devotion to the emperor. The third volume, according to Chamberlain, is full of obscenity and naïve filthiness as well as magic.
A second source is called, the Nihongi or Chronicles of Japan. This too, is the legendary accounting of the birth of the gods and creation of the world borrowing the Chinese concept of the Yin and Yang or the eternal conflict of right and wrong. The goal is to keep everything in balance.
The third source is the Yengishiki or Shinto Rituals, which comes closer to being a religious book. It is essentially a book of ritualistic prayers addressed to the kami, or gods, asking for favors, often of a nationalistic nature.
Each of the numerous Shinto Sects will have their own special scriptures. The Tenrikyo sect is an example. The Foundress considered herself to be the incarnation of god and her prophecies are their sacred scriptures.
4. THE STANDARD OF TRUTH
The Book of Rituals recounts Heavenly Offenses which are essentially ‘earthly offenses’ against the holy land of Japan, its holy people and the divine empire created by the gods. These sins of royalty and commoner, can be cleansed by great purification rites including certain offerings and recitation of great liturgy. These Rituals include the importance of moral education, a strong work ethic and filial piety. The Rituals also involve attendance at national Shinto Shrines on certain State occasions, as well as attending daily to the god shelf in the home.
There are Taboos which are to be avoided in Shinto, such as: certain meats. One must make certain preparations for attending the shrines.
5. THE STANDARD OF ETHICAL MORALITY
Shintoists understand that sin is not maintaining the social responsibilities required for good citizenship. To escape or be cleansed of these imperfections requires careful attention to prescribed ritual purification rites as dictated by the religious leader, including washing of the hands and mouth or avoiding taboos. Attendance at the prescribed times at the 80,000 State Shrines is also efficacious. Sincerity is the guiding ethical principle. At the Shrine, one must bow, clap the hands to make ones presence known, wash the hands and mouth, ring the bell to summon the Kami, make an offering, bow twice, clap the hands twice as you leave.
The Yin and Yang indicate there is a ‘right & wrong’ way to ‘keep everything in balance’. One is to ‘know ones place and maintain it’. There is ritual impurity for some wrong, but it is not sin per se. There are daily, weekly, seasonal & annual ‘purifications’ necessary, which is said to be “the real practice of Shinto”. Any thing ‘wrong’ brings ‘impurity’ which must be corrected.
A child born must be registered at the Shinto Shrine as a ‘Family Child’. At death the person must be registered at the Shinto Shrine as a ‘Family Spirit or Kami’. Amulets and charms may be used for protection against perceived evil.
Being Honest and Trustworthy is considered to make one Righteous.
‘Work’ is considered to be ‘worship’.
The Butsudan or God Shelf in the home must be refreshed each day. The doors are opened and a particular dead relative is honored by placing fresh fruit & a dish of Sakhi.
The are Four Affirmations in Shinto: 1. Love of family and tradition. 2. Respect of Nature [animals are messengers of the Kami. There are guard dogs at Shrines], 3. Physical cleanliness, regular washings, 4. Honoring of Ancestors who have become Kami.
CONCLUSION:
A Shinto Worldview may be expressed as follows:
A Shinto Worldview includes a very limited understanding of an ethical morality as evidenced by the widespread presence of geisha girls and lack of filial piety by the younger generation of Japan. It is a time consuming responsibility to pay homage to State, Religion and Family. A book published in Japan entitled, A Society Lacking In Hope, seems to summarize the hopeless feeling of so many Japanese. Older Japanese are committing suicide for lack of respect by the younger. The next generation is putting off marriage until the early thirties, living as ‘parasite singles’ at their parent’s expense while they live the ‘good life’, not knowing what the future may hold. Such is the hopelessness of the highest educated people in the world, yet who do not know God. Ephesians 2:12
DISCUSSION:
1. From the perspective of the Shinto Worldview, why would Japan attack a much greater power such as China or the US?
2. In the Shinto Worldview, what is a person’s attitude toward himself, anyone else?
3. Why has filial piety been lost in the Shinto Worldview?
4. How would a Christian explain his concept of God, to a person holding a Shinto Worldview?
HOMEWORK:
Consider how to help a Shintoist find perfect peace in a personal experience with Jesus
Christ.