Deck 7: Shinto

Question 1

Shinto is not easily defined as a religion because it has no ethical requirements, no sacred literature, and no __________.

Answer 1

founder

Question 2

The invisible sacred quality that evokes wonder and awe in us, and the invisible spirits throughout nature are born of the essence called __________.

Answer 2

kami

Question 3

Following the way or nature of the kami is called __________.

Answer 3

kannagara

Question 4

The Shinto water purification ritual is called __________.

Question 5

One common Shinto purification ceremony, involving the waving of a sakaki tree branch, is called __________.

Question 6

The Japanese linked the lineage of their emperors to the goddess of the sun, known as __________.

Question 7

Outside of Japan, Shinto beliefs are common only in Hawaii and Brazil because __________.

Question 8

The central theme of Shinto is __________.

Question 9

Which word most closely translates the Japanese word kami?

A) Spirits
B) Emperor
C) Sin
D) Shrine

Question 10

The god of rice is known as __________.

A) Tsubaki
B) Inari
C) Kellogi
D) Kyoto

Question 11

The word kamikaze means __________.

A) War Pilot
B) Purifying Influence
C) Divine Wind
D) Sacred Shrine

Question 12

The biggest annual Shinto festival celebrates the __________.

A) Sun Goddess
B) New Year
C) Cherry Blossoms
D) Flag Day

Question 13

Many religious require repentance from sinfulness, but Shinto requires __________.

A) celebration
B) liberation
C) manifestation
D) purification

Question 14

Kami is the proper name for the Goddess of the Sun.

Question 15

Shinto priests and priestesses commonly marry and are not expected to meditate.

Question 16

Only male priests can conduct worship rituals at Shinto shrines.

Question 17

Japanese popular culture has many Shinto festivals involving formal temple worship.

Question 18

Purification rituals are very important in the Shinto religion.

Question 19

Shinto is an indigenous religion of Hawaii.

Question 20

Today, Shinto is widespread and growing in Asia and South America.

Question 21

How are priests and priestesses regarded in the Shinto tradition? How is their social role different from that of religious authorities in other traditions you have studied? What do you think might account for these differences?

Question 22

State Shinto, especially with its mythology of the divine origin of emperors, experienced some demise after the Second World War. Moreover, the twentieth century move toward modernization threatened institutionalized Shinto. In contemporary life, visits to shrines can resemble tourism more than spirituality. In light of these changes, how can Shinto be preserved and carried on today as its practitioners balance modern life and ancient tradition?