ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by considering some contemporary spiritual experiences. Spiritual experiences constitute an even deeper level of religiosity, which can only be ascertained through spoken accounts or written records. Experiences that remain private, or are shared only with close relatives or friends, may be important for that individual or family but are unlikely to influence the shared beliefs of the wider community. By contrast, revelations received by a shaman or prophet, if they are shared publicly, may have a greater influence, at least in the short term, and have the potential to change a community's religious practices or beliefs. An impression of the Japanese as highly religious comes from statistics derived from the 'membership' figures claimed by different religious organizations: if aggregated, they show that for the last four decades or more the total number of Shintoists, Buddhists, Christians and others has been at least one and a half times the national population.
