RELG 450. The Way of the Kami.

A historical and phenomenological approach to the study of Shinto, a Japanese Indigenous tradition. Analysis of the tradition’s pre-modern and modern history, how Shinto changed over its long history and in what way the modern version of the tradition is different from or similar to its pre-modern counterpart. Exploration of the changing meaning and perception of the tradition. The significance of the kami for the pre-modern practitioner, and how the tradition is viewed today.