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

by Ilana Friedrich Silber

• ISBN13: 9780521021371
• ISBN10: 0521021375
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-10-20
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book is a comparative macrosociological study of the interaction between religious virtuosi and society in two civilizations: traditional Theravada Buddhism and Medieval Catholicism. Merging Weberian sociology with the Maussian tradition of gift-analysis, and criticizing the neglect of meaning in current comparative historical sociology, the author also argues the need for a multidimensional approach capable of addressing the part played by religious orientations in shaping the institutional strength and ideological power of religious elites in the historical framework of the Great Traditions.

Table of Contents

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.