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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 38
... 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 Purchase 136 4 The Providers of Benefits : Gods , Saints , and ...
... Material Goods : Wholesale Suppliers 222 Competition and Survival 225 Marketing Truth Stagnation and Vibrancy 229 231 7 Guidebooks to Practical Benefits 234 A Nineteenth - Century Example 235 Contemporary Guidebooks 239 Guidebooks and ...
... materials related to their institu- tions . We would like to thank the countless worshippers and visitors at various shrines and temples . They kindly accepted our often intru- sive questioning of their actions and motivations , and ...
... material benefits , " but this term can have a derogatory connotation , as if the only benefits sought in the new religions are material.3 Although genze riyaku may cover any kind of good results , they are generally understood to ...
... material pleasures.7 The Nichiren scholar Asai Endō characterizes the new religions as being devoid of doc- trine and having only methods for magical healing ; he criticizes the Sōka Gakkai in particular for their understanding of ...
Other editions - View all
Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |