The Invention of Sacred Tradition

The Invention of Sacred Tradition
Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Total Pages : 0
Release :
ISBN-10 : 0521175313
ISBN-13 : 9780521175319
Rating : 4/5 (13 Downloads)

Book Synopsis The Invention of Sacred Tradition by : James R. Lewis

Download or read book The Invention of Sacred Tradition written by James R. Lewis and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-03-03 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dictionary definition of tradition refers to beliefs and practices that have been transmitted from generation to generation, however, 'tradition' can rest simply on the claim that certain cultural elements are rooted in the past. Claim and documented historical reality need not overlap. In the domain of religion, historically verifiable traditions coexist with recent innovations whose origins are spuriously projected back into time. This book examines the phenomenon of 'invented traditions' in religions ranging in time from Zoroastrianism to Scientology, and geographically from Tibet to North America and Europe. The various contributions, together with an introduction that surveys the field, use individual case studies to address questions such as the rationale for creating historical tradition for one's doctrines and rituals; the mechanisms by which hitherto unknown texts can enter an existing corpus; and issues of acceptance and scepticism in the reception of dubious texts.


The Invention of Sacred Tradition Related Books