Shinto, US Christianity and Why the West must become 'Born Again'

I am a student and sometimes teacher of Religion. I majored in Religion at #9 ranked Davidson College (a small Presbyterian school in North Carolina that is on par academically with Harvard, Yale, etc.). I studied Christianity as an M.Div., Th.M. and Ph.D. student. Finally, I have taught "World Religion" to scores of On-Line university students (300+).

In my time both studying and teaching World Religion, I have stumbled across that ancient religion native to Japan called "Shinto."

Sadly, in some recent research that I did on Shinto, the comparisons between it and U.S. Christianity are often quite appalling.

With the exception of strong born again Evangelicals, most of what I am seeing in the U.S. is this syncretistic mix of feel good "Dr. Phil" pop psychology passing itself off as Christianity. Whether it is the Franciscan (Catholic) magazine that I receive or whether it is mainline Protestantism (for example, United Methodism, my former denomination . . .), all that I am seeing is an attempt by some falling away Christians to invoke state authority in order to impose their belief systems (usually heretical!) onto other Christians.

Sadly, Shinto is also a state-supported religion that is focused on 'blind patriotism,' has its shrines to national causes, and is really nothing more than old-style pre-WW II Japanese imperialism mixed with polytheistic worship. In fact, Shinto actually believes that the Japanese are somehow 'divine' and therefore better than all other human beings.

And, like Shinto, in America, we have Christians who eagerly wave the flag, yet ignore the actual words and teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ says that whomever divorces his wife (or husband) causes her (or him) to commit adultery, yet here in the U.S., divorce among Christians is skyrocketing!

Like Shinto, American Christianity might 'look religious' but usually is some watered down version of true Biblical Christianity, often only a type of "Dr. Phil" meets Oprah Winfrey "good advice" channel at best and outright persecution of other believers in Christ at worst.

Therefore, whether it is Franciscans becoming nothing more than pop psychologists or mainline Protestants standing up for homosexuality and abortion (both anti-Biblical), we in the U.S. NEED to be re-evangelized. Come Holy Spirit, move in the hearts and in the minds of the American People. Make us all true blood-bought born again believers in Jesus Christ.

Love always in Christ,
Rob J. King