Originally Posted by
LapLap
A lot of people outside Japan are unable to give Shinto the same respect they give their own monotheist or other monotheist religions so it is routinely called a superstitious belief or cult.
!! Oh, really. I didn't know that.
Originally Posted by
LapLap
Since the word 'shrine' also invokes a place of adoration and devotion rather than one of active worship with a suitably ordained religious leader then I guess it might give people ignorant of Shinto cause to dismiss it as a 'real religion' as it has no churches or temples where 'real worship' is supposed to happen.
So, the revised name would work for those ignorant people.
Originally Posted by
LapLap
I can see the sense in the decision.
^
Originally Posted by
acregal
The important point about the article is that the people running Ise Jingu want to turn Shinto and Jingu into words used in English.
Easily understandable words are good. They help understand foreign culture.
Originally Posted by
jib71
I'm more confused that Dave Specter is described as a comedian.
Yeah, he is officially a TV producer, but his tweets made me regard him so.
Originally Posted by
jib71
FWIW - I sometimes hear Jewish people talk about "temple" for synagogue. I don't know if there's a distinction between a regular synagogue and a temple. I get the impression that the words are just loosely interchangeable.
synagogue =~ temple
I see.
Originally Posted by
Pureboy
I feel like the argument in this case is more semantic/academic and just serves to confuse people, like when my b-school had a huge argument over whether to call itself "international" or "global."
Though it seems semantic/academic, I support the way in which more people could understand Japanese culture better.