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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... protection against illnesses such as smallpox , that first drew people to her and provided the catalyst for the formation of the group.4 Practical benefits have also been a constant target of the critiques of the new religions made by ...
... 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 Japanese ...
... protection and favor in this life , and ancestors are regarded as a potential source of benefits , while faith in postdeath salvation is an important element in the de- velopment of this - worldly peace of mind ) , one must also ...
... protect the supplicant from misfortune . Neverthe- less , they will clearly improve the seeker's quality of life . They are externalizations of inner wishes that manifest the realities of what people see as important in life . Such ...
... protection and safety to petitions for wealth and entry into good schools . Is it not disingenuous , looking at these overt prayers , to assume that the " real " intention of the petitioners was peace of mind ? After all , there is ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |