Invitation to World Religions

xiv Contents

Chinese Religions on Gender and Identity 312 CHINESE RELIGIONS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 313 CONCLUSION 314

9

Shinto 321 THE TEACHINGS OF SHINTO 323 Creation Myth in the Kojiki  324 THE HISTORY OF SHINTO 329 Ancient Shinto 329 Medieval Shinto 329 The Modern Period 331

VOICES: An Interview with Minoru Watanabe 328

Ultranationalism, Imperialism, and Conflict 332

SHINTO AS A WAY OF LIFE 335

GLOBAL SNAPSHOT: Anime and Shinto 336 Fertility Rites 337 Rites of Purification, Presentation, Petition, and Participation 337 Religious Observances Throughout the Year 341 Shinto and the Environment 344 SHINTO IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 344 Shinto on Gender Issues 345 CONCLUSION 347

10 Zoroastrianism 351

THE TEACHINGS OF ZOROASTRIANISM 353 Monotheism and Dualism 353 The Divine Realm 355 Creation and the Nature of the World 356 Human Nature and Human Destiny 358 THE HISTORY OF ZOROASTRIANISM 359 The Background of Zoroastrianism 359 Zarathushtra 360 Zoroastrian Scriptures 361 Zoroastrianism Through the Centuries 362 ZOROASTRIANISM AS A WAY OF LIFE 367 Ritual Practices 367 GLOBAL SNAPSHOT: Zoroastrianism in New York 368 VOICES: An Interview with Rustom Ghadiali 369 Holy Days and Rites of Passage 371 The Zoroastrian Community: Social and Ethical Responsibilities 374 PROPERTY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS