the majority of people of japan believe in shantoism, i think so.?

Question

Does this belief or religion believe in God or not?

Answer 1

It's "Shinto".

http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto

From the first link:

"The Kami are the Shinto deities. The word "Kami" is generally translated "god" or "gods." However, the Kami bear little resemblance to the gods of monotheistic religions. There are no concepts which compare to the Christian beliefs in the wrath of God, his omnipotence and omni-presence, or the separation of God from humanity due to sin. There are numerous other deities who are conceptualized in many forms:
-- Those related to natural objects and creatures, from "food to rivers to rocks."
-- Guardian Kami of particular areas and clans
-- Exceptional people, including all but the last of the emperors.
-- Abstract creative forces
They are seen as generally benign; they sustain and protect the people."

Answer 2

Shinto is a typically Japanese religion, but I thought most Japanese were Buddhist, as well as being Shinto. There's a Christian minority there too. The word "Shinto" means "Way of the Gods," and there are an innumerable number of gods, inhabiting natural structures such as Mount Fuji and the seas and certain regions. The Imperial family of Japan is said to be directly descended from the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, who was the great-grandmother of Ninigi, who descended to Earth and united the people of Japan, being the origin of the divine Yamato clan from which all the emperors (and empresses!) claim descent. The first emperor was Jimmu Tenno (Tenno means "of heaven" or something similar). Somewhere there is a catalog of all the emperors from then til now (the claim of divinity was discontinued by McArthur's occupation rules--Hirohito was the first emperor to be divorced from divine status)...Amaterasu is said to have given Jimmu Tenno three treasures, which are stored at the shrine at Ise, wrapped in innumerable layers of silk. After awhile, it was thought the items were too holy to be kept by the emperors, and replicas were made. Also, there is a connection between the myriad islands of Japan and the gods who originally made them. Every October is said to be the "month without gods," as all the kami go to a sort of convention in the shrine of Izumo and leave their places in the hills, forests and rivers.

It would be incorrect to say that Shintoists worship a God; they have a sort of animist personification of nature character; everything has its kami, and deceased family may also stick around and be kami. There is a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist shrine in a Japanese home. The Shinto shrine contains pictures of family members, sort of paying them homage by remembering them, as they are, in a sense, still around. There isn't really a heaven or hell as such.

P.S. The whole nationalistic "country and god-emperor" was relatively recent in its militaristic sense. The Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century saw the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate (wherein the emperor had been relegated to more of a ceremonial role without much power) and the "restoration" of the emperor's real power drawn from that original idea of the descent of the Yamato clan from the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Thus Shinto became a rallying cry for more nationalistic elements.

Answer 3

They don't believe in God as the Judeo-Christians believe in nor are they 90% atheists either. Japanese may tell you they're atheists but no atheists I know go to shrines and temples to pray for assistance from ancestorial spirits and Buddha every New Years and myriad of other occassions.

Japan has a mixture of Buddhism and Shintoism. Shinto was the native religion which believed in that the gods created Japan with a jeweled spear. Shinto believes in kami - spirits - in everything from nature to ancestors. Shrines are dedicated to gods, nature spirits, and people's spirits. It's believed that these spirits must be honored or disaster will happen. Even enemies could be enshrined to prevent their spirits from causing problems after their death.

Answer 4

If I remember correctly the "Country and Emperor" is their God. But it could be more Nationalistic like America during the "Manifest Destiny" phase of our history and some would argue up to present day.

Would that Christians were so devoted to God.

Answer 5

They believe in a Higher Being.

Answer 6

Do you mean Shintoism? They dont believe in God, they just honor past warriors in their family.

Answer 7

Nothing like Christians.

Answer 8

90% of Japan is atheist.

Shintoism does not beleive in the Christian/Jewish/Muslim god, no. They're extreme animists.

Answer 9

Thy house doth fall in disrespect.
Thy words do spew of offal.
Thy body fills with thy Rot.
Thou art a Troll.
Thou art a bigot.
Thou art an apostate of thine own religion.
Thy God doth abhor thee.

Answer 10

Not your god; but they have quite a few of their own.