Japan - one of the most developed capitalist countries, which is a prime example of how a high level of economy, modern life and ancient religious traditions coexist harmoniously with each other.There are no strict limits in the choice of religion, in fact, virtually every Japanese person does not consider himself to any one faith.About 70 percent of the population considered to be atheists, although almost all the Japanese lifetime resort to rituals and ceremonies of different religions.Thus, the marriage ceremony is performed according to the canons of Christianity or Shintoism, and the funeral of the dead is always carried out in Buddhist temples.Almost a third of the population during the New Year celebrations commits mass pilgrimage to Buddhist temples and shrines.Opening of various businesses and shops are also accompanied by cult rituals.
religion of Japan - Shinto religion
This is the oldest, it has appeared in feudal Japan.Shinto is based on the worship of various deities and worship of spirits of the dead.Literally, the term "Shinto" can be translated as "the way of the gods."
ancient system of religious belief has it that the majority of things and phenomena is the spiritual essence - kami.Invisible to the human eye life can exist in the earthly material object, which in the traditional sense is not subject to animate, that is, it can be stone, wood, certain sacred place (temple monument), or even a natural object (mountains, hills, rivers).Kami also may personify natural phenomena.All other spiritual beings (most often the spirits of dead ancestors), according to fans of Shinto, is the patron saint of whole families or genera.Kami imperishable and are involved in a constant cycle of birth and death.
This religion of Japan promotes life in harmony and harmony with people and nature, it brings the whole world into a single environment.Sint very peculiar notion of good and evil, alien perception of European man.Thus, the feud between antagonistic Kami considered quite natural.Shinto does not prohibit, but rather even encourages protection from evil entities or their employees by means of peculiar rituals.At the same time, religion promotes the effectiveness of amulets and talismans, magic and totemism.
Japan's main religion - Buddhism
This is perhaps the most widespread belief in the country of the rising sun, which appeared in the 6th century.Its distributors were five monks who came from the "Land of the Red East" - probably it was Korea and India.
Over 1,5 thousand years of its existence has become a religion of Japan is very heterogeneous.So, now there are many Buddhist and schools specializing in completely different aspects of the ancient teachings.Some preach a philosophy, others - the art of meditation, and others - the culture, the fourth - the recitation of mantras and rituals knowledge.
Despite this "variegated" and variety of schools of Buddhism, they are all in demand and popular among different segments of the population - the monks, scholars, politicians and ordinary people.
Japan Religion - Christianity
In the 16th century, Christianity came into the country, and it should be noted that the preachers of this religion is not met friendly, most of the missionaries was executed, the other - renounced their faith, the third - went underground.The reason was very active intrusion of Catholicism in the political sphere.
Today this religion of Japan, and all the other, came from the category of taboo.Moreover, nearly 17 percent of the country consider themselves true Christians.
