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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... 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 Prayers for All 123 Belief and Disbelief in Magic 126 Prayer and ...
... lucky charms , visits to diviners , atti- tudes toward spirits , and the potential incidence of miracles.14 Since the terms ( and concepts ) of religion and shūkyō are imbued with multiple meanings and historical accretions that provoke ...
... luck , and protection from misfortune . Deities such as Inari are called upon to support a good harvest , bless new business ventures , or assist in their particular spheres of influence . Tenjin , the god of education , is prayed to by ...
... luck at a shrine or temple , have to do something , to take part in a practice . There is a basically ethical nature to the practice and an affirmation , too , that the fulfillment of desires is not a matter deserv- ing condemnation ...
... luck . It is not surprising that we should find the ubiquity of charms and talismans for good luck . On one level these objects can be seen as superficial , but they represent at the same time an attempt to address a moral problem that ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |