Japanese Religion and Society: Paradigms of Structure and Change

by Winston Davis

Overview

Illustrations

Preface

Part I: The Structure of Religious Groups

Chapter 1: Japanese Religious Affiliations: Motives and Obligations

Part II: The Dynamics of Social Conflict

Chapter 2: Pilgrimage and World Renewal

Chapter 3: The Cross and the Cudgel

Part III: The Dynamics of Social and Economic Change

Chapter 4: The Weber Thesis and the Economic Development of Japan

Chapter 5: Buddhism and Modernization

Chapter 6: Ittoen: The Work Ethic of a Buddhist Utopia

Part IV: Secularization and National Identity

Chapter 7: The Secularization of Japanese Religion

Chapter 8: Japan Theory and Civil Religion

Notes

Index

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780791408407
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	02/13/1992
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	338
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	1420L (what's this?)

About the Author

Winston Davis, Wilson-Craven Professor of Religion at Southwestern University, is author of Dojo: Magic and Exorcism in Modern Japan.

Table of Contents

Illustrations

Preface

Part I: The Structure of Religious Groups

Chapter 1: Japanese Religious Affiliations: Motives and Obligations

Part II: The Dynamics of Social Conflict

Chapter 2: Pilgrimage and World Renewal

Chapter 3: The Cross and the Cudgel

Part III: The Dynamics of Social and Economic Change

Chapter 4: The Weber Thesis and the Economic Development of Japan

Chapter 5: Buddhism and Modernization

Chapter 6: Ittoen: The Work Ethic of a Buddhist Utopia

Part IV: Secularization and National Identity

Chapter 7: The Secularization of Japanese Religion

Chapter 8: Japan Theory and Civil Religion

Notes

Index

Editorial Reviews

"It provides in one place and under one cover useful studies featuring the important interrelationship between religion and society, or — to put it more correctly— Japanese religio-social reality." — Richard B. Pilgrim, Syracuse University

"This is a solid piece of work, and the topic is significant, in fact, timely, in several regards. First, there is much attention today on Japan and the secret of its cultural and social makeup. Second, there is the question of whether to accept the 'uniqueness' argument of Japan's mystique (which Davis rejects), or if so, which theory is best able to account for the nature of Japan—to which question Davis provides some interesting insights. This book offers a thoroughly researched, carefully analyzed, and thoughtfully interpreted and sustained critical assessment of Japanese religion and the Japanese and Western scholarship on the subject. It not only opens up the Japanese phenomenon in an insightful way, but also raises interesting theoretical questions about the study of religion and society." — Byron Earhart, Western Michigan University

From the Publisher

From case studies of Japanese life, distills theories to explore how the religion, culture, and values are related to society, social change, and economic development. Draws on the methodologies of sociology, anthropology, history, and other disciplines, and on interviews and observations, as well as on published literature. Paper edition (unseen),$16.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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