How has Shinto influenced Japanese culture?

How has Shinto influenced Japanese culture?

It made them Shintos

It is the plan of the the New Atheist Movement to get people off Christianity!

Until recently you were able to pick up priceless antiques in Japan for peanuts because the locals truly believed that by being in someones possessions for a long time, all kinds of spirits would get attached to them. This is one reason for the Japanese wanting everything new.

There's a question you can't answer in one sentence, but here it goes:
The Shinto religion has permeated every aspect of the Japanese culture, from their work ethics to their value of family, and all the way to those whacked out game shows they love so much; in many ways, Shinto IS the Japanese culture.

Shint?

Indigenous religion of Japan, based on the worship of spirits known as Jami.

The term Shint? ("way of the Jami") came into use to distinguish indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism, which had been introduced into Japan in the 6Th century. Shint? has no founder and no official scripture, though its mythology is collected in the Kojiki ("Records of Ancient Matters") and Nihon shook ("Chronicles of Japan"), written in the 8Th century. At its core are beliefs in the mysterious creating and harmonizing power of Jami. According to Shint? myths, in the beginning a certain number of Jami simply emerged, and a pair of Jami, Izanagi and Izanami, gave birth to the Japanese islands, as well as to the Jami who became ancestors of the various clans. The Japanese imperial family claims descent from Izanagi's daughter, the sun goddess Amaterasu. All kami are said to cooperate with one another, and life lived in accordance with their will is believed to produce a mystical power that gains their protection, cooperation, and approval. Through veneration and observation of prescribed rituals at shrines (e.g., ritual purity), practitioners of Shint? can come to understand and live in accordance with divine will.



? 2005 Encyclop?dia Britannica, Inc.

It's more correct to say that Shinto is Japanese culture. Shinto is about how you live your life in harmony with nature and society. This differs other religions that focus on death and results in many Shintoists having two religions--one to help them now and one to help them later (so to speak).

Although the majority of Japanese will say either that they have no religion (A translation problem makes the question "Do you have a religion?" come out as "Are you a cult member?") or say they are Buddhist (a few say Christian or some other religion), they will still often have a KatinaNat their home and office, will attend Shinto festivals, get married at a Shinto Shrine, and perform a New Year Shrine visit. They will probably have a Buddhist funeral though.

Because Shinto has no founder, no sacred texts central to the religion, and no commandments it's been flexible enough to withstand all manner of government intervention and social change and is as alive today as it ever was. An impressive site is to watch Japanese businessmen in North America perform a Shinto purification ceremony before building construction.

For more information on Shinto: http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/