Mysticism and Morality: A New Look At Old Questions

by Richard H. Jones

Overview

In Mysticism and Morality author Richard Jones explores an often neglected question of religious ethics: Is mysticism moral? Through a discussion of several religious traditions—including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Tantrism, Daoism, and Christianity—Jones fills a major void in the scholarly literature by considering all relevant points pertaining to mysticism. Rather than looking at mysticism abstractly, the book focuses on such topics as ritual, practice, and the processes of mystical becoming. This work provides new perspectives for those interested in ethics and will prove essential to anyone interested in comparative philosophy and cross-cultural studies of religion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739107843
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	01/07/2004
Series:	Studies in Comparative Philosophy and Religion
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	6.32(w) x 9.28(h) x 1.56(d)

About the Author

Richard H. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and History of Religions from Columbia University. He is the author of Reductionism: Analysis and Fullness of Reality (2000).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Exploring Mysticism and Morality
Chapter 2 Morality
Chapter 3 Religion and Mysticism
Chapter 4 The Upanishads
Chapter 5 Shankara's Advaita Vadanta
Chapter 6 The Bhagavad-gita
Chapter 7 Jainism
Chapter 8 Theravada Buddhism
Chapter 9 Mahayana Buddhism
Chapter 10 Left-Handed Tantrism
Chapter 11 Daoism
Chapter 12 Christianity
Chapter 13 Mystical Experiences and Morality
Chapter 14 Mystical Ways of Life and Morality
Chapter 15 The Lack of Social Action
Chapter 16 What Can Mysticism Contribute to Morality Today?

Editorial Reviews

It is encouraging to see non-Western texts scrutinized with analytical rigor.

Michael Barnhart

Occasionally one encounters a book that seems destined to become a classic in the sense of providing a basis for much further exploration and discussion. Given its wide scope and impeccable scholarship, Mysticism and Morality is such a book.

Bridges

Occasionally one encounters a book that seems destined to become a classic in the sense of providing a basis for much further exploration and discussion. Given its wide scope and impeccable scholarship, Mysticism and Morality is such a book.

Bridges

It is encouraging to see non-Western texts scrutinized with analytical rigor.--Michael Barnhart, Associate Professor, Kingsborough College, CUNY

Occasionally one encounters a book that seems destined to become a classic in the sense of providing a basis for much further exploration and discussion. Given its wide scope and impeccable scholarship, Mysticism and Morality is such a book.--Bridges

From the Publisher