Shinto's struggle
Although I have never visited Japan, I have often wondered if Shinto in some ways best resembles classical Paganism, in so far as the shrine and the gods come first--there is not the idea of minister + congregation.
In Pagan Theology, Michael York asks something similar about Hindu temples.
Shinto, says this Japanese writer, is looking more and more like tourism.
Although I have never visited Japan, I have often wondered if Shinto in some ways best resembles classical Paganism, in so far as the shrine and the gods come first--there is not the idea of minister + congregation.
In Pagan Theology, Michael York asks something similar about Hindu temples.
Shinto, says this Japanese writer, is looking more and more like tourism.
posted by Chas S. Clifton at 6:26 AM Permalink
1 Comments:
I have visited Japan, but never quite made the connection you make here: gods and shines really do come first, then the faithful. It's also quite a similar situation with Confucianism and [religious] Taoism in China ... fascinating. This will probably end up generating a much longer piece of writing from me at some time - thanks for this interesting thought.
Be well,
Dave H.
http://www.haxton.org/weblog
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