Kami is the name of the spirits of people, places, and nature in which religion?

• A. Buddhism
• B. Shinto
• C. Hinduism
• D. Jainism

Answer: (B)

Kami are the spirits revered in Shinto, believed to inhabit people, places, and natural phenomena. Shinto, the native religion of Japan, treats these kami as numerous, diverse beings rather than a single creator God, and people honor them through shrines, rituals, and seasonal festivals to maintain harmony with the world around them. This focus on animistic spirits tied to nature and locality is distinctive of Shinto, which explains why this option fits. In contrast, Buddhism centers on the path to enlightenment and reverence for Buddhas and bodhisattvas, Hinduism encompasses a wide array of deities and cosmic concepts, and Jainism emphasizes ethical conduct and liberation through Tirthankaras; none of these centers on kami as spirits of nature and place.