I am not japanese but i took up the beliefs of Shinto and am getting alot of crap for

I am not japanese but i took up the beliefs of Shinto and am getting alot of crap for it, is it wrong?

Whatever you want to do is your right. My sister takes a little fro mt eh Shinto Religion as well and we are far from Japanese.

Shinto's not wrong. And those giving you crap should be ashamed.

What you think and believe is more important that what everyone else think. If they don't respect your believes then forget them.

You need to follow your heart... if you believe Shintoism is right then not being born in Japan shouldn't stop you from embracing it.

People will give you crap no matter what you do... especially if your choices are out of the "norm" for the circle of people you hang out with.

Just practice your beliefs... don't try to show off or go out of your way to shove them in people's faces (not saying you do, just saying in general it's not a good idea) and forget what anyone who objects to you peacefully going about your business might think.

Shinto is basically a religion of Japanese culture. It is made up of ancient beliefs in nature deities and cultural behavior. These deities or spirits, called Kami, are attached to various clans and groups in Japanese society. Shinto was strongly encouraged during the Meiji Dynasty to strengthen Japanese culture at a time when there was much more exposure to foreign ideas. It is a religion of Japanese-Nessa. Here is a quote:
"Essentially all followers of Shinto are Japanese. It is difficult for a foreigner to embrace Shintoism. Unlike most other religions, there is no book to help a person learn about the religion. It is transmitted from generation to generation by experiencing the rituals together as a group."

Shinto may be fascinating, but pretty well impossible to "join" unless you are Japanese.

I fully understand where you're coming from.

I'm Lutheran and according to my ultra-fundamentalist and ultra-conservative family of origin, I'm going to Hell because I'm a Lutheran and not a member of the Church of Christ!

That has not stopped me from being Lutheran, nor has it stopped me from taking classes at the Lutheran seminary near where I live.

If my family doesn't like it, that's their tough luck -- and I hope you'll be able to tell the people who are giving you crap for practicing the Shinto religion that if they don't like it, that's *their* tough luck -- and this Lutheran will support you all the way in the pursuit of your beliefs!