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Mike Shreve was a teacher of yoga at four universities. (The portrait above was drawn by one of his students in 1970.) Then a spiritual rebirth brought him into a real relationship with God and drastically changed his heart, his life and his belief system. Read his story here.
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TheTrueLight.Net
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ShintoThis is fundamentally and primarily the religion of the Japanese people. The word Shinto means "the way of the gods," a name adopted in the sixth century A.D. to distinguish it from Buddhism and Confucianism. The origin of this religion is prehistoric. In its earliest expression it offered no orthodox sacred writings, no universal standard of moral behavior and no fixed doctrinal base. It primarily focused on the worship of a pantheon of deities or spirits (kami). The kami range from deities associated with aspects of nature (the sky, the sun, a mountain, etc.) to those that perform specific functions. Examples include: Fudo, who guards against danger or misfortune; Yakushi, who imparts healing for the mind and the body; or Inari, the rice god who brings an abundant harvest. Two other major facets of Shintoism have been: Emperor worship-stemming from a belief that the Mikado (the emperors that ruled Japan) descended from Ama-terasu Omikami, the sun goddess. Defeat during the Second World War produced a great deal of skepticism toward, and rejection of, this doctrine. Ancestor worship-stemming from the belief that thirty-three years after death every Shinto person becomes divine, joining the ranks of the kami. For many centuries, Shintoism lost its uniqueness and independent existence, being mixed with its two chief rivals: Buddhism and Confucianism. In the 18th century, however, a nationalistic revival took place under the influence of a number of scholars who sought to rid Japan of foreign influence and reestablish Shinto as the state religion. The revered texts of this religion are: Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters-712 A.D.) Nihongi or Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan-720 A.D.) and Engishiki or Yengishiki (Procedures of the Engi Era-927 A.D.). Select the desired topic from the drop-down box |
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"In Search of the True Light" 2002 copyright
by Mike Shreve.
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