宗教                       religion              adj.（形容詞）   believer（~教徒）    founder（開祖）

無神論                   atheism                    atheist                  atheist(ei)（無心論者）

神道                      Shinto, Shintoism    Shinto                   Shintoist

ヒンドゥー教       Hinduism                 Hindu                   Hindu                     (older than Buddhism)

仏教                      Buddhism                Buddhist               Buddhist                 Budda(~486BC or 386BC)

ユダヤ教               Jewish                      Jewish                  Jew                         (Jehovahﾔﾊｳｪ､ｴﾎﾊﾞ)

キリスト教           Christianity             Christian              Christian(s)            Christ

カトリック教         Catholicism              Catholic                Catholic

プロテスタント教Protestantism           Protestant             Protestant

イスラム教           Islam                        Islamic                  Islamite                  Muhammad(~632)

（回教）            Muhammadanism   Muhammadan     Muhammadan

                                                            Muslim,Moslem    Muslim,Moslem

シーア派                Shiah, Shia, Shiism Shiah, Shia           Shiite

スンニ派                Sunnism                   Sunni, Sunnite     Sunni, Sunnite

イスラム原理主義  Islamic fundamentalism

儒教                       Confucianism           Confucian             Confucian(ist)(儒者）Confucius(~479BC)

 

Polytheism               多神教                Monotheism        一神教   

Theism                     有神論                Atheism                            無神論

 

八百万の神（やおよろずのかみ）・・・so many (or all) kinds of God / a concept for God in Shintoism

神道における神観念で、きわめて多くの神々

 

We Japanese sometimes pray to so many kinds of God for something.  I think this is one of the most  outstanding points to express the Japanese way of thinking on God.

The Japanese is said to be a race not to adhere to a religion.  But when we are alive, we have followed various customs related to Shinto such as Omiyamaeri (when a baby was born) and Shichigosan (when a child is 3, 5, 7 years old).  While after a person die, we have a tendency to follow Buddhism customs such as Syonanoka (6 days after a person died) and Jyuunanakaiki (16 years after a person died).

 

I learned at the university that when we think over religion, it is also important to think about religious ceremonies and festivals concerned.

In Japan festivals concerning to Shrines or Temples usually start with sacred ceremonies in quite solemn atmosphere.  After that, big feasts and so-called festivals are held with explosive energy.  A lot of people including the youth working in remote areas gather together.  The people experience unusual sacred world and chaotic world which is so different from the usual life.  Festivals play a part to strengthen and tighten the bonds of the people.  Festivals are interesting! 

What do you think?