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9780195336009

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Reviews

a superb defence of recourse to ritual propriety and doing the right thing, as against the embarrassing self-indulgences of modern sincerity and authenticity. David Martin, Times Literary Supplement

"""In this whirligig world we do not know what to do apart from the done thing. Ritual and courtesy are, in contemporary parlance, suspect activities surplus to requirements. Like conformity, ritual attracts the adjectives 'mere,' 'meaningless,' 'external,' 'empty' and 'inauthentic.' This book brilliantly expounds the creative potential and the necessity of ritual, and exposes the destructive possibilities of sincerity. It could be seen as part of a Jewish riposte to Christianity or a Confucian one to the Enlightenment, but Catholics and members of enclosed orders will like it too. Everybody should read it, especially American Protestants and post-Protestant secularists who suffer more than most from the ills of sincerity."" --David Martin, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, London School of Economics ""In this whirligig world we do not know what to do apart from the done thing. Ritual and courtesy are, in contemporary parlance, suspect activities surplus to requirements. Like conformity, ritual attracts the adjectives 'mere,' 'meaningless,' 'external,' 'empty' and 'inauthentic.' This book brilliantly expounds the creative potential and the necessity of ritual, and exposes the destructive possibilities of sincerity. It could be seen as part of a Jewish riposte to Christianity or a Confucian one to the Enlightenment, but Catholics and members of enclosed orders will like it too. Everybody should read it, especially American Protestants and post-Protestant secularists who suffer more than most from the ills of sincerity."" --David Martin, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, London School of Economics ""An enormously important and paradigm-changing book. The audacity of its scope is refreshing--a turn to grand theory in an academic culture whose trend is to say more and more and less and less.""Common Knowledge ""...A new, interesting, and very fruitful approach towards understanding and using the concept of 'ritual.'""--Religion ""The author clearly drew energy and inspiration from the process....""--Gabriel Robinson, Cambrisge"

Author Information

Adam B. Seligman is Professor of Religion and Research Associate at the Institute for Culture, Religion, and World Affairs at Boston University. Robert P. Weller is Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology and Research Associate at the Institute for Culture, Religion, and World Affairs at Boston University. Michael J. Puett is Professor of Chinese History at Harvard University. Bennett Simon is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Training and Supervising Analyst at Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.

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