#shinto practice

In the most formal sense, Konkokyo is classified officially as both 新宗教 (Shinshukyo) and 教派神道 (Kyoha "Teaching School / Denomination Shinto).

It is a "new religious movement" because it is a new faith in the sense of the new worship of Konjin-sama, later Tenchi Kane no Kami-sama, and their unique way to be worshipped. As well, no one did toritsugi mediation before Ikigami Konko Daijin-sama.

It was a movement / religion of sorts because of these reasons which are unique to Konkokyo.

However, this does not mean Ikigami Konko Daijin-sama wanted to detach or divorce, or create an entirely new religion separate from the native Japanese religious traditions he grew up with and believed in. And thus, still being close to traditional ways, it is also a Kyoha Shinto and did not give up that definition - where in contrast for example Tenrikyo did. To me, there is a reason Konkokyo did not let go of this designation.

It is difficult to explain because of the matter how you would define Shinto..Konkokyo is not Shrine / Jinja Shinto, but it is Kyoha Shinto ..and its not Shinto as in the Jinja Shinto religion based around Amaterasu Omikami-sama and worshipping the local ujigami shrines, but it is Shinto (particularly Kyoha, teaching-Shinto) in that it is the Way of Kami, where our beliefs, practices, and rituals come from that core of Japanese religious tradition and thought.

I say Konkokyo is Shinto not only because its a Kyoha Shinto formally, but also because to me, honestly, Jinja Shinto is more of a "new religious movement" as well, newer than Konko Faith, and not what exactly the same kind of Shinto that was practiced before Meiji era.

So I don't think its correct that Jinja Shinto gets conflated with the word Shinto because it feels we miss and lose something important, especially about Ikigami Konko Daijin-sama's life, and understanding of his world and how he viewed it and how he was raised.

Yes, his faith changed over time, but it was still rooted in this 'Shinto' (not Jinja Shinto because it didn't exist) basis. At least from my perspective, and also why I have come to understand Konkokyo, - why that it is still under Kyoha Shinto and did not leave it

There is also the issue of people who look down on Konkokyo for not being "real Shinto" and its "new" and dismiss it as a cult in the harmful sense...but in fact it is older than what is classified as "Shinto" now, and I believe carries a lot of the original spirit of the Way of the Kami and the original Japanese religious spiritual thought and worldview.

Ikigami Konko Daijin-sama was both someone who brought new ideas but also someone who was very traditional and respectful from a spiritual perspective too, and respected various Kami-sama, Jinja, and temples.

If I say Konkokyo is not Shinto, it feels like it's letting Jinja Shinto be the only definition of what "Shinto", and I don't think that is right because it is erasing so many of the old ways and traditions, in particular a lot of which he, the founder of Konko Faith, practiced too.

I think it also erases our connection as a Kyoha Shinto.

Now of course Kyoso-sama also said toritsugi-sha (Konko ministers) should not be like Kannushi (Jinja, shrine priests) who just sell amulets for profit. But to me that shows a distinction from the "way of Kami" core about Konkokyo, versus how some clergy serving shrines just saw them as places to make money.

I get more into it because I think to myself why did Konkokyo never give up it's designation as Kyoha Shinto and become like Tenrikyo, who became totally independent from any Shinto label or connection?

While serving here in Japan over the 8 years, I began to understand it more because Shinto is less "Jinja Shinto" and more of a diverse set of faiths and practices under traditional viewpoints and framework here in Japan.

Perhaps the answer is that from the perspective of defining Shinto outside of Japan or even in an academic sense as academically Jinja Shinto tends to dominate - and Konkokyo doesn't become understood as Shinto because it's not Jinja Shinto which is how Shinto is understood outside of Japan.

But inside Japan, Konkokyo is Shinto because of how Shinto is understood inside of Japan. I think that ends up being where a lot of confusion comes from.

To me, I don't really mind about it either way - whether Konkokyo is Shinto or it's own religion, I will love Konkokyo because it's Konkokyo.

I always just want to clear things up objectively and have everything sorted out in my mind. Because Konkokyo is also defined as Kyoha Shinto, I wanted to understand why, and I want to teach that designation properly as well, understanding the key differences historically to modern times, and what all happened.

Because Konkokyo is both 新宗教 Shinshukyo (new religious movement) but it is also 教派神道 (Kyoha Shinto), and to me it's the understanding that its a new religious movement in the framework of Shinto because no one had worshipped Konjin-sama before - nor later on Tenchi Kane no Kami-sama, nor did toritsugi mediation.

But also, it's rooted in Shinto practices, traditions, and beliefs, and thus could be considered Kyoha 教派 "Teaching school / denomination" of Shinto, which was also given by the Meiji government who began all the new organizational understanding of Shinto practices and beliefs

Additionally, I want to respect and be faithful to it's current status as both Shinshukyo but also Kyoha Shinto, I say both Konkokyo and Konko Faith as something that means both a religious body of it's own right but also a faith within Shinto umbrella (but not Jinja Shinto nor related to it at all nor it's organization).

To me it makes sense it's both, and I think it also explains to people who have no idea about Konkokyo that it is not a sudden new cult that just arose after WWII from a charismatic leader, but it originated from sincere faith in Kami-sama from Kyoso-sama, Ikigami Konko Daijin-sama. I think it's also important to keep this designation in discussions because it makes our history and official designations clear and not obscured.