groups and religions. All people are regarded as equal regardless of race, religion, gender, occupation, social status, and wealth. Women in Konkokyo are also held in high esteem with many women serving as head ministers at its churches. Konkokyo also does not impose any restrictions on food and drink. Konkokyo believers are permitted to consume alcohol, caffeine, meat, etc. Celibacy is also not a requirement for the clergy or anyone. There are no restrictions for Konkokyo believers. As well believers are not obligated or required to pay any dues or make any donations. Defining Konkokyo's theology in western terminology is complex, but Panentheism, Pantheism, Non-Dualism, Animism, Monotheism, and Henotheism can be, and have been, used to describe the faith depending on one' definition of those terms. Membership The following information is current as of December 1, 2012 (Kondō, 2013, p. 39) Churches (教会) 1,550 Missions (布教所) 10 Ministers (教師) 3,909 Ministerʻs assistants/Deacons (補教) 1,855 There are about 450,000 adherents. Konkōkyō churches and missions are found in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Germany, Paraguay, and South Korea, and majorly Japan. Due to the Japanese cultural nature of Konkokyo, it has limited churches overseas. Through its various churches and missions, Konkōkyō has a number of activities and organizations that help fulfill the necessities of modern-day society: Konkōkyō Peace Activity Center, Konkō Library, Konkō Church of Izuo Miyake Homes (India, Bangladesh, and Nepal), Yatsunami Foundation, Shinkō-kai Medical Foundation, Konkō Academy, Wakaba Orphanage, and Katsuragi Memorial Park (cemetery) (Takahashi, 1994). Relationship to Shintō Because of Japanese society being deeply intertwined with Shinbutsu Shugo at the time of Bunjirō, the founder, Konkokyo began deeply rooted in Shinto ways, traditions, and rituals - many of which still are present of the ceremonies in the present day. Due to the Meiji Restoration's new laws on Shinto practices, Konkōkyō was classified as Sect Shintō. This allowed Konkōkyō to continue practicing as a spiritual way without persecution from the government. Konkokyo has never renounced this classification even after it was free to do so at the end of World War II, alongside the abolition of State Shinto and organization turning into Jinja Shinto. As of January 2020, Konkokyo maintains membership in the Kyoha Shintō Rengokai (Association of Sectarian Shinto). The philosophy, practices, and beliefs of Konkōkyō are aligned very similar to Shrine Shinto; since they both are Shinto practices. Therefore, there are many Konko followers who also consider themselves Shinto.