The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1146 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
2.33Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
). While Buddhists, Christians, and Sect Shintoists had freedom of religion, allegiance to State Shinto was required of all.
With Japan's defeat in the Second World War came the disestablishment of Shinto and the formation of the Association of Shinto Shrines independent of the government. The Sect Shinto groups have continued to attract large numbers of adherents, and many New Religions (
shink
sh
ky
) have developed and are flourishing, drawing on ideas and practices from the various Japanese traditions. Among many, however, there persists the sense that much of the spiritual heritage of Japan has been lost amid the
secularization
of modern life.
See also
BUDDHISM IN JAPAN
;
Japj
(Pañj
b
, ‘recitation’). Major Sikh religious poem composed by Gur
N
nak
. The Japj
introduces and epitomizes the
di Granth
.

Other books

Honesty by Foster, Angie
Purification by Moody, David
Moon-Flash by Patricia A. McKillip
Stranded by J. T. Dutton
The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander Mccall Smith
An Infinity of Mirrors by Richard Condon