Year 10 - Religious education
The place of religion in Japan
Belief: what is religion and does everyone understand it in the same way?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will consider the term religion and ask: what does it mean? Does everyone see it as the same thing? Ninian Smart's dimensions will provide one way in which religion has been classified. A case study of Japan and ethical veganism offer opportunities to question what is meant.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to analyse whether the idea of religion makes sense when examining Japanese worldviews.
Key Notes
- Surveys consistently state that most Japanese identify as non-religious.
- However, many Japanese people commonly engage with both Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies in their lives.
- Religion is often seen as more about cultural identity rather than belief in Japan.
- Smart's dimensions can be applied to the Shinto tradition in deciding if it is a religion or not.
Vocabulary To Learn
- dimensions: for Smart, these are the different aspects or parts that make up a religion
- Kami: 'spirit' or 'superior' in Japanese and refers to all spiritual entities worshipped in the Shinto religion
- mushukyo: in Japan this refers to 'non-belief', describing people who don't affiliate with organised religions
- Shinto: literally means 'the way of the gods' and is seen as the indigenous 'religion' of Japan
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That everyone in Japan is not religious.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Surveys consistently state that most Japanese identify as non-religious. However, many Japanese people commonly engage with both Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies in their lives.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'dimensions'
for Smart, these are the different aspects or parts that make up a religion.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: That everyone in Japan is not religious. Correction: Many people state they are 'mushukyo', which is often translated as non-religious but often means that they are not affiliated to just one religion exclusively, but take part in rituals and practices from across different religions.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Religious education guide library.