Taoism VS Shintoism whats the difference?

Can someone tell me the difference between Taoism and Shintoism?

TO GOD none. They both deny the TRinity!!
go ogle this...kingdom of the cults

Taoists focus on Balance and the Force. Shinto believe in ancestor worship and the spirits around you.

well for one Shinto is Japanese and Tao Chinese i believe, i don't remember exact points on religion, but they probably vary there to. nice to see a question not on atheism, Christianity or Islam for once.
I know Taoism relies heavily on the idea of balance in every walk of life and form of existence

There is a Huge Difference Taoism is about the way or the path. Taoism is more about being, and action through non-action.


Shintoism is similar to Confucianism, it is very rigid, and strict on many levels including rituals.

Taoism is basically about balance, whereas Shinto is the history of Japan seen in spiritual and folklore terms.

Check out the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.

@ Fireball. Well I did Google Kingdom of the Cults, it is a book that appears to denigrate and promote hatred of certain sects such as Mormons and Jehovah`s Witnesses. It has no mention as far as I can see of Taoism or Shinto. Please enlighten me if you know otherwise.
http://www.waltermartin.com/cults.html

Shintoism has these tenets:

1. Respect for family

2. Respect for nature

3. Cleanliness of body and mind

4. Celebration of the harmony of man and nature through the Kami.

Kami is the divine spark in almost every natural object whether animate or inanimate. Generally Kami are personified and given names and attributes as opposed to Tao which permeates everything but has no individuality.

Shintoists believe that everything starts out clean and picks up "spiritual dirt" along the way by contamination from negative thoughts, negative actions, and contact with unclean substances (such as blood). Shinto rituals are designed to remove the contamination and restore the original clean state.

During the 6Th and 7Th centuries Chinese religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism were imported into Japan and influenced Shinto. (Shinto was only called Shinto then to distinguish it from the imported religions. Before that it didn't have a name.) In particular, the influence of Chinese religions allowed Shinto to focus on ritual rather than on cosmology. Shinto is about living life in harmony with nature and society and has little to say about any afterlife. Most other religions have this life as being only a preparation for the next. Many Shintoists belong to some other religion to take care of the next life.

Shinto has no founder, no commandments, and the Shinto texts are not central to the religious belief. Therefore, Shintoists have a wide variety of styles and practices.

Taoists believe that the Tao surrounds everything and is the primal cause of the universe. This is similar to the Force in StarWars.

Taoism stresses enlightenment through listening for the Tao.

Taoism promotes health and vitality.

Taoism says that nature should take its course. Rivers should not be dam ed, etc.

Taoists believe that development of virtue is a person's main task.

Taoists believe in compassion to others.