Eric Takabayashi wrote:
> necoandjeff wrote:
>
>> Go out and meet some actual people, learn what atheism really is,
>> then we'll talk.
>
> You're here telling me what Shinto is really about, and that not only
> isn't it a religion like Western religions are, which I would be
> happy to tell you, but that Shinto is not a religion at all.

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.

Second, if you actually read your beloved BBC site, the points that I'm
trying to make are sprinkled thorughout it. For example:

"Shinto is often called "the religion of Japan", but it's better to think of
it as the traditional belief systems of Japan since it covers different (but
closely related) philosophies at different times in history."

> Wow.
>
> So what is real atheism, then?

Atheism is a negative belief. It is a nonbelief in the concept of God. But
it is of course not limited to a particular god. Hinduists may not believe
in the particular God that you do, but that does not make them atheists of
course.

Jeff