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Post by londongirl on May 7, 2006 1:55:40 GMT -5
I have been brought up as a jew by my very observant sephardic jewish mother (moroccan israeli). When I was young I even lived in Tel Aviv from the ages of 5 to 8. However, recently I have become questioning of the Jewish faith and have become interested in the shinto buddhism of my fathers side of the family (Japanese). My only reservation about Buddhism is that it is supposodly an atheistic religion. Is this true?  |
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Post by miaim on May 7, 2006 3:24:45 GMT -5
you're half jap too? welcome to the club!
shintoism & buddhism are two seperate religions:
shintoism is japan's homegrown animist / polytheist folk religion....
whereas buddhism was imported via China.....
it is rather confusing cuz the two do share the same dieties, such as benten - the godess of fertility - who can be traced back to hinduism via buddhism.....
anyway, to answer your question: shintoists are not atheists cuz they believe in gods.....but they are what the jews (or christians or muslims) would call polytheists, cuz they believe in the existance of multiple gods.....in real life, shintoists tend to worship the god they want, much in the way catholics have their 'favourite' saints....
my understanding of buddhism is that it may be called 'atheist' cuz they don't believe in gods.....but you better check with them - i think there are a few buddhists on the board....
peace
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Post by nesssie on May 7, 2006 3:51:39 GMT -5
My advice is this. Before you decide on a course for religion, expose yourself to everything BUT religion. Become immersed in art, culture, philosophy, travel, love, HISTORY, literature, politics, music. Get older, develop your own view of things. And then come back to decide on what ideas from which religion appeal to you individually.
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Post by londongirl on May 7, 2006 5:13:52 GMT -5
thanks miaim and nesssie. Miaim, do you know of any shintoist courses/centres in the London area? (Sorry, I know you are French)!
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Post by ╗ on May 7, 2006 5:18:57 GMT -5
^haha Actually she's NOT French, she just lives in France. (Miaim can correct me if I'm wrong).
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Post by londongirl on May 7, 2006 11:20:48 GMT -5
Wicked, thanks kyu-ree. My dad has told me a bit about shinto and buddhism, and I have also been to Japan several times. However, as my mother is jewish, and through Jewish law (or halacha), I am technically jewish. There is a buddhist temple near me in Milton Keynes but, obviously it is not shinto which is the religion that I am most curious about. I am aware, however, that shinto is mainly resigned to Japan proper, but I know that there are shinto centres in Cali for obvious reasons.
I have heard about buddhism being a way of life, so maybe I could incorporate both jewish and buddhist customs into mine?
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Post by miaim on May 7, 2006 11:58:31 GMT -5
or you could just become one of those mystical jews - oops, in judaism that's kaballah, isn't it? lucky you, you can join madonna's club - dun worry, i'm just being silly  sorry, but i don't know any shinto jinjas in london..... maybe watching Miyazaki's cartoon "Spirited Away" will give you a better idea about shintoism, which is all very much about supernatural spirits, ancestor worship & generally trying to make sure the dead rest in peace & don't come back & haunt us.....it's kinda difficult to explain without sounding like a cooky newager....LOL www.unomaha.edu/jrf/Vol8No2/boydShinto.htmbut yeah, kyu*ree's essentially right - it's merged & mated with buddhism & it's often hard to tell which is which..... hope that helps & happy spirituality fishing! ╗: exactly - i'm half jap half white english.....no frog! peace |
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Post by miaim on May 7, 2006 12:10:51 GMT -5
girl, the moonies are korean! ;D no seriously, i don't actually know much about the history of korea....in japan, shintoism merged with buddhism in the 6th century, when we also imported taoism & confucianism, just to confuse the issues  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto#Shinto_and_Buddhismpeace |
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Post by londongirl on May 8, 2006 16:25:26 GMT -5
Hmm, I think I might check out my local buddhist temple. I will need to familiarise myself with the customs firstly, of course, but I am intrigued by the idea that buddhism is a philosophy and not a way of life. Wish me luck...
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Post by Altan on May 8, 2006 21:03:26 GMT -5
Also you might want to check which Buddhism Sect you might want to follow?
I think Shintoism is somewhat like Shamanism and Judaism combined. I think to follow Shintoism one has to go to Japan and see all the rituals, feel it, and really feel it in their blood and especially feel all the emotion that Shintoism exudes when one witnesses a true connection to a particular place or tradition which Shintoism invokes. Shintoism really gives a connectiveness to the land and an understanding of the land of Japan and an inner and outer awareness.
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Post by londongirl on May 16, 2006 11:57:12 GMT -5
Wow, that is pretty interesting.The history of religion in Japan and Korea in particular is fascinating.  |
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