Religions come in all shapes and sizes, and begin in different ways. The world is covered in different religions, some very different from others. One of these religions is Shintoism. Of all religions, Shintoism is unique. In fact, some consider Shinto to be more than a religion: it is the Japanese way of life. Shinto believe that the world was created by the gods in the beginning of heaven and earth. They believe the world is full of sacred energies, Kami. Some Kami are creative beings, others are natural forces, while others are the souls of ancestors. They believe that the Kami created their nation and shaped their culture; by honoring the Kami in rituals, they can link them to their past. Shintoism is a polytheistic religion, although it has no specific deities. They call them all Kami, and all Kami are sacred. There are also appointed days for worshiping this religion, which is different from most other religions (). Shintoism believes that people are inherently good and that evil is caused by evil spirits that cause humans to do bad things (). Shintoism has ancient origins that can be traced back to 500 BC, but it was not until Japan in the 8th century that the name Shinto came to be called, when Buddhism began to threaten the Japanese way of life. Religions of course began in Japan. Shintoism has no founder, it has been practiced by the Japanese since they appeared on earth apparently so no one knows who the hell started it (). There is no specific person who propagated the religion, as Shintoism did not spread much. There are a few temples in Hawaii, South America, and Europe, which most likely originated from immigrants who came to these areas from Japan (). Some say that Shintoism is linked to Japan. If your mother was Shinto, you... middle of paper... you had ceremonies. There is Shegatsu, which is the most important festival in Japan. It is simply the Japanese New Year (). The sacred texts associated with Shintoism are the Nuhon and the Kojiki. These books are collections of ancient myths and teachings transmitted by oral tradition. However, these books are not exclusively Shintoist. Japanese religious life had a huge impact on Buddhism and Confucianism, which occupy a place in these sacred texts. Works Cited http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/ http://www.hr.uwa.edu.au/equity/diversity/interfaith/shinto http://eos.kokugakuin.ac .jp/modules/xwords/category.php?categoryID=12 http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~qm9t- kndu/shintoism.htm http://www.religious-symbols.net/shinto- symbols.html http://www.orias.berkley.edu/visuals/japan_viauals/shinto.htm http://www.rc-artkids.com/Japan/popupwindows/shintopopup.htm