RELS 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Essentialism, Japanese Cuisine, Animism
Document Summary
Hindus cannot be victims in india since they are the majority. Complex idea: cluster of folk beliefs and practices. Habit, something that is there animism: belief that every object has a spirit, spirit precedes over objects, kami: fundamental to japanese culture, did not have success with monotheism devotion to shrines. Some say it is not a religion (by western definition: not religious but spiritual real religion, views are found differently. They are not always good, do not have moral ambiguity though: guardians of specific objects, different energy level (buddhism too, worship of these spirits. Guardians hierarchy: also have small functions. Way to understand the way the world works. Where the kami"s live, sacred space: making sacred space naturally, pass a shrine, stop, and go. Help understand what shinto is: essential and existential. Domestic, village, city, or state shrine different levels. Domestic shrine: shinto home alter rituals bring identity, culture, wo we are in society.