After reading about the various religions over the past four weeks, I have learned a great deal about them. Since I had very little knowledge of the various religions, I find myself very interested and amazed at how I react to each one as I gain knowledge about them. Shinto continues to fall in that trend of learning. I have found Shintoism to be a very positive religion that celebrates life more so than any other religion I have experienced thus far.
             Shintoism seems to be less confusing to me than some of the other religions I have studied during this course. Shinto has a strong relationship to the natural world. The roots of Shinto, which originated in Japan, are affinity with natural beauty, harmony with the spirits, and purification rituals. Shinto does not focus on any one god or creator. Although Shinto teaches that everything is related to the divine one, who gave birth to two spirits (kami). These two kami are known as Amatsu Kami. They are believed to have created the natural world that we know as planet Earth.
             The simplicity in Shintoism is the concept of kami. It can be translated as god or deity; however, kami has many more meanings than a god or spirit. Kami can represent quality or harmony. It can even represent growth and reproduction. Kami is everything in the natural world such as mountains, waterfalls, and everything produced via the weather. To follow the kami is to bring life into harmony with nature. This is known as kannagara.
             Shintoist have built shrines to honor and worship kami. These shrines vary in size ranging from the size of a bee-hive to elaborate temples, which span over acres of land. These shrines have been chosen for their sacred atmosphere, which reflect kami in its natural beauty. Many of these shrines have a tall gate at the entrance called torri and often fe
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