Medieval Japan M | Page 9

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Shinto is not really a religion. It is actually the Japanese way of life which has allowed Buddhism and Shinto to survive and compliment each other in Japan. Shinto religion unites the spiritual and physical word unlike other belief systems. They believe that spirits and humans exist in the same world. It considers the invisible world an extension of the visible world. Ethics in Shinto are not presented as commandments or rules but instead it shows you what the will of the kami is and a Shinto follower tries to imitate the kami. Kami are not always perfect which makes Shinto quite different from other religions where God is perfect. Shinto tries to promote harmony and purity. Shinto believes that humans and the word is naturally good. Shinto also believes that evil is caused by evil spirits polluting the mind of humans.