Question

Which of the general characteristics of an indigenous religion are evident in Shinto?

How is the Shinto belief in tsumi similar to, and different from, the understandings of karma presented in Hinduism and Jainism?

Answer 1

Indigenous religions are separate from the world religions in their way of professing and manner of conduct as well as scale. Shinto is an indigenous religion as it is relatively small scale and confined to a certain area or sect, does not propel or direct individuals into choosing or converting to its religion.

Shinto has a belief which is the tsumi. Tsumi is the bad deeds or evil deeds that an individual indulges in either intentionally or unintentionally. Tsumi is also assumed to be bad deeds that a human does by possession or spirits. In that respect it is similar to karma, but is different in the sense that it also included aspects that weren't human related, but nature related, such as natural disasters. Karma is also about bad deeds and then coming to haunt an individual in a carry over system. Karma can be good and bad, however and is earned by actions.Tsumi is negative and "polluting" for the soul.