THE AMERICAN ENCOUNTER WITH BUDDHISM, 1844-1912 by Thomas A. Tweed ( 9780807849064 )

Item Details

Title:

THE AMERICAN ENCOUNTER WITH BUDDHISM, 1844-1912
VICTORIAN CULTURE AND THE LIMITS OF DISSENT

By:

Thomas A. Tweed

Format:

Paperback

List price:

£37.95

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£34.16

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£3.79

ISBN 10:

0807849065

ISBN 13:

9780807849064

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Publisher:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS

Pub. date:

30 September, 2000

Pages:

280

Description:

Traces the efforts of 19th-century American interpreters to make sense of newly-arrived Buddhism in Western terms. The author shows that American understanding of Buddhism, even for its most enthusiastic proponents, was significantly shaped by the prevailing culture until the following century.

Synopsis:

This work examines 19th-century America's encounter with one of the world's major religions. Exploring the debates about Buddhism that followed upon its introduction to the USA, the author shows what happened when the transplanted religious movement came into contact with America's established culture and fundamentally different Protestant tradition. The text, first published in 1992, traces the efforts of various American interpreters to make sense of Buddhism in Western terms. Tweed demonstrates that while many of those interested in Buddhism considered themselves dissenters from American culture, they did not abandon some of the basic values they shared with their fellow Victorians. In the end, the Victorian understanding of Buddhism, even for its most enthusiastic proponents, was significantly shaped by the prevailing culture. Although Buddhism attracted much attention, it ultimately failed to build enduring institutions or gain significant numbers of adherents in the 19th century. Not until the following century did a cultural environment more conducive to Buddhism's taking root in America develop.In a preface new to this paperback edition, Tweed addresses Buddhism's growing influence in contemporary American culture.

Illustrations:

2 tables, notes, bibliograhy, index

Publication:

Imprint:

The University of North Carolina Press

Returns:

Returnable

Some other items by this author:

A DICTIONARY OF ALL RELIGIONS AND RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS (PB)

AMERICA'S CHURCH (HB)

ASIAN RELIGIONS IN AMERICA (HB)

ASIAN RELIGIONS IN AMERICA (PB)