REL 100 Lecture 10: Shinto
Document Summary
Goal is to live in harmony with the universe, no moksha (escaping universe) In daoism, death is an accident and people can be immortal if they live in harmony with the universe. Ancestor veneration (many gods are ancestors and the dead are still living) Religious pluralism: chinese/japanese often practice several religions at the same time as they serve different purposes. Shinto (native japanese religion)=helps the japanese relate to their natural environment. Confucianism=helps to build solid families/ethics; focuses on relationships. Taoism (native chinese religion)=provides personal metaphysics (understanding nature) and healing. Harmony=health in body (between body parts), between ancestors (respect) Way or path or the way of all things . The goal of life is harmony with the kami and the basic human problem is disharmony with kami. Disharmony caused by individualism, a view of nature as lifeless, forgetting ancestors, and a loss of national pride. Spirits (nature, family ancestors, dead leaders, national/local heroes) 8th century ce=written texts of oral shinto.
