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 45
... nature of this religion , and listening to testimonies from members who told of practical benefits they had received as a result of their religious devotion , Michiko be- came convinced that this was a religion that might be able to ...
... associated with main- stream religious traditions , such as Buddhism , and by journalists in the mass media . Accusing the new religions of being solely material- istic in nature , such critics condemn them as being 2 INTRODUCTION.
... nature , such critics condemn them as being concerned with foolish superstition . From a psychological point of view , for example , Nakamura Kokyō attacked the new religion Ŏmotokyō as “ a frightful superstition unparalleled in the ...
... nature of genze riyaku in Japanese religion . Our basic argument is that genze riyaku is a normative and central theme in the structure and framework of re- ligion in Japan - sought through numerous ritual practices , symbol- ized by ...
... nature , role , and position of genze riyaku in Japa- nese religion , we see genze riyaku both as a descriptive term , referring to a particular phenomenon and practice , and as a means through which , by examining the various elements ...
Other editions - View all
Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |