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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... true " religions but somehow false and corrupted — imply- ing that “ real ” and “ true ” religions are not concerned with material or this - worldly benefits acquired through superstitious magic . True religion in this model involves ...
... true and false religions and , through spreading the doctrines of " true religion , " with rejecting what it saw as falsehood and superstition . The focus of anthropological study was thus rele- gated to the investigation of what from ...
... true Buddhism but accretions gleaned from the folk tradition through Buddhism's desire to expand its influence and reach greater numbers of people . Whatever the intent of the concept , it has provided a means through which those who ...
... true because it accom- plishes things . The range of complexities and themes related to the seemingly simple notion of a benefit ( riyaku ) that is attained , enjoyed , and ex- perienced in this life ( genze ) will become more evident ...
... true " spiritual goals ) pro- vides another useful means of explaining why temples say prayers for practical benefits and why they sell objects ( the amulets and so on ) that are purchased in this practice . But this is a form of ...
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Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader,George J. Tanabe No preview available - 1998 |