Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of JapanPraying for practical benefits (genze riyaku) is a common religious activity in Japan. Despite its widespread nature and the vast numbers of people who pray and purchase amulets and talismans for everything from traffic safety and education success to business prosperity and protection from disease, the practice has been virtually ignored in academic studies or relegated to the margins as a uh_product of superstition or an aberration from the true dynamics of religion. Basing their work on a fusion of textual, ethnographic, historical, and contemporary studies, the authors of this volume demonstrate the fallacy of such views, showing that, far from being marginal, the concepts and practices surrounding genze riyaku lie at the very heart of the Japanese religious world. They thrive not only as popular religious expression but are supported by the doctrinal structures of most Buddhist sects, are ordained in religious scriptures, and are promoted by monastic training centers, shrines, and temples. |
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... ( Shinto ) 5. Goriyaku . I. Tanabe , George Joji . II . Title . BL2211.R44R43 1998 200'.952 - dc21 98-4192 CIP University of Hawai'i Press books are printed on acid - free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the ...
... Shinto and Practical Benefits Genze riyaku in Japanese Religion A Common Religion 1 Benefits in the Religious System : Settings and Dynamics Comprehensive Responses : Types and Extent 13 14 23 32 37 of Practical Benefits 45 The Social ...
... Shinto 3 Buying Out Chance : Morality , Belief , and Prayer Good Luck ( koun ) and Moral Luck ( kaiun ) 94 97 100 102 107 108 Material Spirituality 115 Social Welfare and Repayment of Gratitude 120 Materialism , Selfishness , and ...
... Shinto scholars frequently characterized the new religions as being " doctrinally shal- low , magical , and focused on this - worldly benefits . " " Generally they portray the new religions and their adherents as interested in little ...
... Shinto and Practical Benefits If Buddhism is intimately associated with the pursuit of benefits , so too is Shinto . One of the major differences is that Shinto priests as well as academics studying Shinto have had little problem in ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |