=Intellectual Basis of Religion. The Idea of God=.--A God may be defined as a sentient being possessed of superhuman power. The phrase "supernatural being," which is sometimes used as equivalent to God, is open to objection The word "supernatural" belongs to the vocabulary of a comparatively scientific age. To the savage, phenomena are ordinary or strange, not natural or supernatural. Moreover, there are many objects of worship which are not at all supernatural, as, for instance, the sun. "Spiritual being" is insufficiently comprehensive as an equivalent for God. The Lama of Tibet is a God; but he is not a spiritual being. Neither is the Wind nor the Moon. The assumption that Gods are always spirits has been the source of much confusion. =Kami=.--The most common and comprehensive word for deity in the Japanese language is _Kami_. It is probably connected with _kaburu_, to cover, and has the general meaning of "above," "superior." _Kami_ is the part of Japan which lies near the capital, as opposed to _Shimo_, the lower country or provinces. _Kaha-kami_ means the upper waters of a river. _Kami no ke_, or simply _kami_, is the hair of the head. _Kami_ is applied not only to Gods, but to Mikados and nobles. The heads of State Departments were at one time called _Kami_, and in later times this word became equivalent to our "Lord" in territorial titles. _O Kami_ is frequently said vaguely of "the authorities," while _O Kami San_ is the domestic authority, namely, "the mistress." Whether _Kami_ is used of Gods or men, it is in both cases a secondary application of the general meaning "upper." The Gods are _Kami_ because they reside in Heaven (_superi, caelicoli_, Ὁνρανίωνες, Most High, Father in Heaven); men are _Kami_ on account of their higher rank. No doubt both gain prestige by their association under the same title--the Gods by a reflection from the pomp and ceremony which attend on mortal _Kami_; and men by assimilation with the transcendent power and glory of the great nature-deities.