The indigenous religion of Japan, ShintM describes human existence much like the popular singer, Sting: as spirituality in the material world. This worldview is the foundation of Japanese civilization and has endured and adapted for centuries. While ShintM recognizes spirit over materiality as the basis of life, it shares something compelling with the perspective of science: the human propensity to identify that which is most powerful in nature and to harness that power for a comfortable and happy human life. Both are able to channel the raw potential of nature toward specific human aims on all levels of society, from the domestic to the national, and both regulate human control over nature through ethical standards that rely on an unquestioning belief in the value system upon which they are built.

Traditional Teachings

Some of the earliest forms of science and religion sought to answer the question...