Shintoism

Objectives

The student will know one fact about Shintoism.

Materials

• Sheets of ruled & blank paper.

• Pens/pencils

• Worksheet 1 & 2

• Shintoism Powerpoint (Attached)

• Salt

Preparation

• Make sufficient copies of the worksheets

Method

1. Gassho & Welcome

2. Review:: What is an animistic religion?

   1. Religion where animals, plants and sometimes inanimate objects have spirits

3. Presentation:

   1. We’re covering this because it shows where many aspects of Japanese culture and even Jodo Shinshu come from.

   2. Shintoism Powerpoint

4. Discussion

   1. What do you think?

   2. Is it valid in this scientific world? Why? (No "wrong" answers)

   3. Do it appeal to you? Why?

5. Activity: Worksheet2

   1. Activity 1: Draw a timeline

   2. Activity 2: Draw your interpretation of a Japanese god

      1. Write down its object

      2. Write down its name

      3. Write down what will make it happy

      4. Write down what will make it angry

      5. Write down its power

   3. Activity 3: Clean your table.

      1. Make sure to clean the underside

      2. Sprinkle salt

   4. Write down an American object that you thing a Shintoist would declare to house a special god?

6. Comparison:

   1. What is similar to Buddhism?

   2. What is different from Buddhism?

   3. What is similar to Jodo Shinshu?

   4. What is different from Buddhism?

7. Review

8. Closing Gassho

Evaluation

During the questions the comparisons. If desired can be done by asking what they remember during the Review.

Notes

This can be done as a two day lesson where the presentation and the discussion is split.

Author

Mas Nishimura, nish221.at.gmail.dot.com, San Jose Betsuin, 2018