- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (20 April 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0700711090
- ISBN-13: 978-0700711093
- Product Dimensions: 15.6 x 23.4 x 1.7 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,455,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The Tokyo subway attack in March 1995 was just one of a series of criminal activities including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and the illegal manufacture of arms and drugs carried out by the Japanese new religious movement Aum Shinrikyo, under the guidance of its leader Asahara Shoko. Reader looks at Aum's claims about itself and asks, why did a religious movement ostensibly focussed on yoga, meditation, asceticism and the pursuit of enlightenment become involved in violent activities?
Reader discusses Aum's spiritual roots, placing it in the context of contemporary Japanese religious patterns. Asahara's teaching are examined from his earliest public pronouncements through to his sermons at the time of the attack, and statements he has made in court. In analysing how Aum not only manufactured nerve gases but constructed its own internal doctrinal justifications for using them Reader focuses on the formation of what made all this possible: Aum's internal thought-world, and on how this was developed.
Reader argues that despite the horrors of this particular case, Aum should not be seen as unique, nor as solely a political or criminal terror group. Rather it can best be analysed within the context of religious violence, as an extreme example of a religious movement that has created friction with the wider world that escalated into violence.
From the Publisher
Examines Aum's state as millenialist movement
Examines Aum's state as millenialist movement
The Tokyo subway attack in March 1995 was just one of a series of criminal activities including murder, kidnapping, extortion and the illegal manufacture of arms and drugs, carried out by the Japanese new religious movement Aum Shinriky , under the guidance of its leader Asahara Sh k . Many immediate interpretations of the 'Aum affair' have concentrated on Aum's preparations for, and acts of, violence, and have depicted Aum as predominantly a criminal and terror-oriented movement. However, such interpretations overlook crucial elements within Aum's development and its path to violence, in particular those that had strong religious roots, which played a major role in producing Aum's violence. Yet Aum described itself as Buddhist and asserted Buddhist principles of not killing in its publications, while many of its members had renounced the outside world and considered themselves to be monks and nuns. Reader looks at Aum's claims about itself and asks: why did a religious movement ostensibly focussed on yoga, meditation and asceticism and the pursuit of enlightenment become involved in violent activities? In framing this question Reader discusses Aum's spiritual roots, placing it in the context of contemporary Japanese religious patterns, Asahara's teaching as it developed between his earliest public pronouncements in the 1980s through to his sermons at the time of the attack, and some of the statements he has made in court during his trial. He examines Aum's stance as a millennialist movement, originally claiming a mission to save the world, but later becoming increasingly involved with drastic prophecies of disaster, and examines why this shift to an increasingly critical and pessimistic view of the world occurred. In discussing how Aum not only manufactured nerve gases but also constructed its own internal doctrinal justifications for using them, Reader focuses on the formation of what made all this possible: Aum's internal thought-world, and how this was developed. His conclusion suggests that, despite the horrors of this particular case, Aum should not be seen as wholly unique, nor as primarily a political or criminal terror group. Rather it can best be analysed within the context of religious violence as an extreme example of a religious movement that has, largely due to its own religious characteristics, created friction with the wider world that escalated into violence. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Examines Aum's state as millenialist movement
The Tokyo subway attack in March 1995 was just one of a series of criminal activities including murder, kidnapping, extortion and the illegal manufacture of arms and drugs, carried out by the Japanese new religious movement Aum Shinriky , under the guidance of its leader Asahara Sh k . Many immediate interpretations of the 'Aum affair' have concentrated on Aum's preparations for, and acts of, violence, and have depicted Aum as predominantly a criminal and terror-oriented movement. However, such interpretations overlook crucial elements within Aum's development and its path to violence, in particular those that had strong religious roots, which played a major role in producing Aum's violence. Yet Aum described itself as Buddhist and asserted Buddhist principles of not killing in its publications, while many of its members had renounced the outside world and considered themselves to be monks and nuns. Reader looks at Aum's claims about itself and asks: why did a religious movement ostensibly focussed on yoga, meditation and asceticism and the pursuit of enlightenment become involved in violent activities? In framing this question Reader discusses Aum's spiritual roots, placing it in the context of contemporary Japanese religious patterns, Asahara's teaching as it developed between his earliest public pronouncements in the 1980s through to his sermons at the time of the attack, and some of the statements he has made in court during his trial. He examines Aum's stance as a millennialist movement, originally claiming a mission to save the world, but later becoming increasingly involved with drastic prophecies of disaster, and examines why this shift to an increasingly critical and pessimistic view of the world occurred. In discussing how Aum not only manufactured nerve gases but also constructed its own internal doctrinal justifications for using them, Reader focuses on the formation of what made all this possible: Aum's internal thought-world, and how this was developed. His conclusion suggests that, despite the horrors of this particular case, Aum should not be seen as wholly unique, nor as primarily a political or criminal terror group. Rather it can best be analysed within the context of religious violence as an extreme example of a religious movement that has, largely due to its own religious characteristics, created friction with the wider world that escalated into violence. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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2 reviews
the best portrait of Aum Shinrikyo
29 Dec 2001
Format:Paperback
Reader's Religious Violence in Contemporary Japan is a masterpiece of solid in-depth research and analysis that should be read by all persons interested in contemporary Japanese society and in modern religious movements. He consulted an amazing array of sources and conducted in-depth interviews with former and current Aum members who provide amazing insights into the movement. The most interesting chapter contains in-depth profiles of several members. Reader is also a brilliant writer whose lively and clear prose makes this book a genuine pleasure to read.
Engaging Work
10 Jun 2001
Format:Paperback
I read this book for a college class. The book provides an interesting and unbiased account of the Aum Shinrikyo "cult" who attacked the tokoyo subway with serin gas. The account of the group's history is complete, and the book provides suggestions as to the motives of the group and its leader. Reader puts a lot of research into this book, including interviews with members and former members, and I would recomend this book to anyone interesting in the case or religious violence in general
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