Is it possible for a African/Black person to convert to Shintoism?

[ricebomb]

Is it possible for a African/Black person to convert to Shintoism? Does anyone have any advise on how I can become Shintoist?

I don't think there are any Shinto temples in the U.K, though there must be a small Japanese community here.

[noodle]

Shintoism doesn't require you to profess to the faith! If you just follow it's teachings, it'll probably be sufficiant!

[Helgen]

Did you think being a black person would disregard some one from any form of socialism/belief in Japan?

Shintoism... I don't even see Shintoism here in Japan barely. Japan's beliefs have slimmed down, and while cultural customs are still around, but as far as Shintoism/Buddhism and the likes are concerned, it isn't maybe like how you think it is.

[bELyVIS]

Shinto is probably the most accepting religion there is. They don't mind if you are a member of another religion or not. Do what you feel is right in your heart.

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by ricebomb

I don't think there are any Shinto temples in the U.K, though there must be a small Japanese community here.

Tiny niggle but Shinto doesn't have temples, it has shrines.

[TalnSG]

Though there are census figures stating that there are those in the UK who have declared Shinto as their religion, I cannot find any shrine (Jinja) listed anywhere.

I did notice a few uncomfortable things during that search, such as a sports equipment company named “Shinto LTD” who named their company that because they feel their service reflects Shinto ideals. That has got to be near the top of my list for insulting and offensive commercial appropriation of religion.

As for the person in Japan who hadn’t seen much of it, I would say you probably don’t recognize many common customs as being based in Shinto practice. They are so common or subtle that the connection may not be as obvious to one who has not studied or practiced Shinto. As for shrines, there are over 200 major, active shinto shrines listed in Japan.

[MissMisa]

My Japanese teacher says she knows of people who practice Shinto in England, however she mentioned that they practice it in the home. (As Taln said, I don't think there are any shrines here.) I can't remember much more than that, wish I could be more help.

[Columbine]

It's difficult to practice shintoism outside japan, or find shrines because the Kami tend to be connected to specific geographical locations. You can't export the kami of a sacred tree like you can Jesus.

Then again, Shintoism is about one of the most pragmatic religions I've ever come across. There's a great tale of a man who owned a pharmacy who got fed up of the drunks urinating down the alley beside his shop. He got a large rock and some rope that looked like the kind they tie around sacred objects and plonked it in the alley. Lo and behold, people stopped peeing in the ally. Gradually people started leaving coins on the rock. Then they started asking which kami it was for. Ever the entrepreneur, the pharmacist said it was the kami of ear medicine. Now there's a shrine there. Hows that for making the gods work for you?

[shinagawa]

Shinto is more undeveloped than other major religions. There might be room for
development because it is undeveloped. It tends to be seemed that there is no
constancy from the person of the monotheism well.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by shinagawa

Shinto is more undeveloped than other major religions. There might be room for
development because it is undeveloped. It tends to be seemed that there is no
constancy from the person of the monotheism well.

Wow. That is quite a judgement to be making.