Shinto, or Shintoism, is undoubtedly one of the world's most fascinating religions. While many of the largest and most influential religions, from Christianity to Islam and Buddhism, share many core concepts such as a divine teacher, a holy book, and a principal prophet, Shintoism has none of those components. For thousands of years, Shinto has survived in one form or another as a decentralized, unregulated, leaderless religion, which is still practiced by tens of millions of people in Japan and beyond.
So, what exactly is Shintoism, and what's the secret to its longevity? Read on to find out.