Virtuosity, Charisma and Social Order: A Comparative Sociological Study of Monasticism in Theravada Buddhism and Medieval Catholicism

ISBN-13: 9780521413978 / Angielski / Twarda / 1995 / 264 str.

Ilana Friedrich Silber

Opis

This is a comparative study of the interaction between monasticism and society in Theravada Buddhism and medieval Catholicism. Building on Weber's classical analysis of religious virtuosity on one hand, and opposing recent comparative historical sociology's neglect of structures of meaning on the other, the author demonstrates the combined impact of religious orientations, macrosocietal structures, and virtuoso radicalism in shaping the ideological power of religious elites in the historical framework of the Great Traditions.

Recenzje

"...Silber's analysis of the material raises new theoretical questions and suggests some cogent answers. ...well-worth attending to. An important contribution to comparative historical sociology." Choice

Spis treści

Part I. Virtuosi and Society: Elements of Macrosociological Approach: 1. The Weberian legacy; 2. Monasticism and social order: a multidimensional perspective: Part II. Virtuosi asnd Society in Theravada Buddhism: 3. Ideological groundings: hierarchy and ritualized exchange; 4. Virtuosity institutionalized; The Sangha in Social Context; 5. Virtuoso radicalism: the triumph of a syndrome; Part III. Virtuosi and Society in Medieval Catholicism: 6. Ideological groundings: plurality and conditional exchange; 7. Virtuosity institutionalized: monasticism in social context; 8. Virtuoso radicalism: a self-defeating triumph; Part IV. Virtuosity, Charisma and Social Order: 9. Virtuosity and the virtuoso-society syndrome; 10. The virtuoso syndrome in comparative historical perspective; Conclusion.