Shinto and a 21st Century Japanese Ecological Attitude

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Japan, like many other industrialised countries, is in dire need of a change in treatment of the environment, as is evidenced by a gamut of environmental problems. Its native religion, Shinto, can be sufficiently isolated from other Japanese ideological traditions in order to be considered separately from them, with beliefs, values, themes, an attitude and a worldview that are specific to Shinto spirituality, and in many cases already integrated into everyday Japanese life. Shinto worship of spirits which permeate the world is concurrent with a Japanese self-identification of being 'at one' with nature. These beliefs can be shown to lead to ecocentrism and potentially an holistic ecological attitude of 'respect for nature'. Such an attitude would be bolstered by the Japanese importance of maintaining a 'mindful heart'. This book aims to convince the reader that the beliefs and values exhibited in Shinto spirituality could play a fundamental role in developing a Japanese ecological attitude. It should be of particular interest to those interested in Japanese culture, environmental ethics and world religions.