09 Dec Way Of Way 210

Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan, is often described as animistic and polytheistic.

Shinto has animistic qualities as it recognizes the spirit (“kami) in every natural force (e.g., growth and fertility), phenomena, animate and inanimate object, ancestor, and deity; reflecting a deep reverence for the interconnectedness of the seen and unseen universe.

It is polytheistic, as the number of kami is traditionally said to be 8 million.

As the number 8 in Japanese culture symbolizes infinity, the 8 million kami imply the universe is a manifestation of divine energy. This is the essence of pantheism.

As experiencing the entire universe, including ourselves, as a single manifestation of divine energy can feel overwhelming, Shinto practices and rituals are an accessible way to engage with the omnipresent divine.

Describing Shinto as pantheistic or polytheistic depends on perspective. From a distance, it is pantheistic, though in practice it is polytheistic. Ultimately, the perspective is of little matter; either way, Shintoism is an expression of awe and gratitude.