Major Beliefs and Practices
Beliefs
Shintoism is more of a perspective rather than a set of beliefs.
Shintos believe in purity and impurity: certain deeds are inpure and needed to be purified
-One can be purified through Harae. Harae is a purification rite that can be done daily, weekly, and seasonally.
Phrases on Shinto Perspective:
“Mono No Aware”-this means empathy towards things. This includes aesthetic sensitivity,(sense of beauty in things), Sadness as well as joy in life, and seeing with heart into natural beauty and the goodness of things
“Makoto”-this means “sincerity”. Shintos believe “sincere people” don't do things that will harm society, and that it is the grounding of all ethical thought and behavior
“Kannagara-no-michi” refers to the idea that virtue is inseparable from the rest of life. Beauty, truth, goodness, and morality are all connected and inseparable
Shintoism is more of a perspective rather than a set of beliefs.
Shintos believe in purity and impurity: certain deeds are inpure and needed to be purified
-One can be purified through Harae. Harae is a purification rite that can be done daily, weekly, and seasonally.
Phrases on Shinto Perspective:
“Mono No Aware”-this means empathy towards things. This includes aesthetic sensitivity,(sense of beauty in things), Sadness as well as joy in life, and seeing with heart into natural beauty and the goodness of things
“Makoto”-this means “sincerity”. Shintos believe “sincere people” don't do things that will harm society, and that it is the grounding of all ethical thought and behavior
“Kannagara-no-michi” refers to the idea that virtue is inseparable from the rest of life. Beauty, truth, goodness, and morality are all connected and inseparable
Practices
Practices include visitors performing the ritual washing before entering a shrine. Purity rituals include
rinsing the mouth and washing hands. Both rituals symbolize internal and external cleansing. Purity is
so important that those who have recently been in contact with blood, such as menstruating women,
or someone who has recently touched a corpse, are not allowed to enter the shrines.
Practices include visitors performing the ritual washing before entering a shrine. Purity rituals include
rinsing the mouth and washing hands. Both rituals symbolize internal and external cleansing. Purity is
so important that those who have recently been in contact with blood, such as menstruating women,
or someone who has recently touched a corpse, are not allowed to enter the shrines.