Missionary work was never important to which religion?

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

Answer: (B)

Missionary activity measures how much a religion seeks to spread beyond its home community. Shinto operates mainly as a native Japanese tradition, centered on local rituals, shrines, and seasonal festivals, and it has not developed organized campaigns to convert people in other lands. In contrast, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism have long histories of missionaries or missionary-inspired movements that established followers beyond their places of origin. Shinto’s growth has remained culturally and nationally rooted within Japan, rather than outwardly proselytizing, so missionary work has not been a central or important aspect of its practice.