What is Shintoism?

Answer

Shintoism is a uniquely Japanese religion, with origins shrouded in the ancient history of Japan. It stands as one of the oldest religions globally. Japanese people hold a deep affection for their homeland, believing that the Japanese islands were the initial divine creation. According to Shintoism, Japan is the only divine land, setting it apart from the rest of the world. Unsurprisingly, Shintoism has not gained popularity beyond Japan.

At the core of Shintoism are two fundamental doctrines: Japan is the land of the gods, and its people are descendants of these deities. This belief in the divine lineage of the Japanese population and the sacred origin of the land has fostered a sense of superiority over other nations and cultures. Apart from a few specific sects, Shinto lacks a founder, sacred texts, or a definitive set of doctrines. Worship typically occurs at the many shrines across Japan, although numerous Japanese households have altars dedicated to one or more of the myriad deities.

The term “Shinto” originates from the Chinese phrase Shen-tao, meaning “the way of the gods.” Central to Shinto is the concept of kami, representing sacred power present in both living and non-living entities. Shinto emphasizes the divine presence of gods and spirits in nature. While the gods in Shinto are too numerous to categorize hierarchically, the sun goddess Amaterasu holds significant reverence, with her grand imperial shrine situated 200 miles southwest of Tokyo. Shinto teaches that the Japanese people are direct descendants of these kami.

Shintoism is fundamentally incompatible with biblical Christianity. The belief that the Japanese and their land are uniquely favored contradicts the Bible’s assertion that the Jews are God’s chosen people: “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”Has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession” «For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. », (Deuteronomy 7:6). However, although the Jews are God’s chosen people, they have never been designated as better than any other people, and the Bible does not teach that they were directly descended from gods.

Second, the Bible is clear that there are not many gods, but one God: “I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God” «I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me: », (Isaiah 45:5). The Bible also teaches that God is not an impersonal force but a loving and caring Father to those who fear Him (2 Corinthians 6:17-18). He alone created the universe, and He alone reigns sovereignly over it. The idea of gods that inhabit rocks, trees, and animals combines two different falsehoods: polytheism (the belief in many gods) and animism (the belief that gods are present in objects). These are lies from the father of lies, Satan, who “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” «Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: », (1 Peter 5:8).

Third, Shintoism fosters pride and feelings of superiority in the Japanese people; such elitism is condemned in Scripture. God hates pride because it is the very thing that keeps people from seeking Him with their whole hearts «The wicked, through the pride ofHis countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4). In addition, the teachings of the basic goodness and divine origin of the Japanese people preclude their need for a Savior. This is the natural consequence of assuming one’s race is of divine origin. The Bible states unequivocally that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), that we all need a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that there is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Shinto teaches that the kami might commune with those who have made themselves worthy through ritual purification, but the God of the Bible promises to be present to anyone who calls upon Him for forgiveness. No amount of personal purification (a form of salvation by works) will make a person worthy of the presence of God. Only faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross can accomplish cleansing from sin and make us acceptable to a holy God. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).