necoandjeff wrote:

> Two last points here before I leave you to ponder Shinto Eric.
>
> First, my Koujien as well as my Kodansha Nihongo Daijiten are both careful
> to make the distinction. First Christianity:
>
> キリスト教：イエスをキリストと認め、その人格と教えとを中心とする*宗教*。
>
> Now Shinto:
>
> 神道：わが国に発生した民族信仰。
>
> Note the distinction here between 宗教=religion and 信仰=system of beliefs.
> So let me repeat, Shinto is not a "religion," it is a system of beliefs.

And what's the distinction between them, particularly when "religion" is the
word used in English, by believers or organizations themselves?

I wonder what other systems of beliefs, such as Santeria, Wicca, Heaven's Door
or Aum, your dictionaries consider not to be actual religions.

--
 "I'm on top of the world right now, because everyone's going to know that I
can shove more than three burgers in my mouth!"