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Located in the heart of Tokyo, Yasukuni is a controversial shrine dedicated to the Japanese war dead. It holds the remains of twelve convicted and two suspected Class A war criminals, and its museum features an account of Japan's involvement in the Second World War that many would describe as revisionist. Visits to Yasukuni by cabinet members often spark protests in Japan and abroad, especially in China, Korea, and Taiwan, and the shrine's existence continues to foster a sense of mistrust between the Chinese and Japanese governments.

As the first authoritative volume in English on Yasukuni, John Breen has edited a book that neither commends nor condemns the monument. Instead it renders more complex an issue that, in the media at least, has been portrayed in starkly simplistic terms. Breen presents authoritative yet divergent views on the shrine and its place in postwar Japanese diplomacy, ideology, and history. Critical contributions are written by leading Yasukuni and anti-Yasukuni Japanese intellectuals, as well as Chinese and Western commentators. Yasukuni is a provocative symbol of Japan's nationalist past. With this book, English-speaking readers can now access a full portrait of the shrine's significance and its unique position in the highly contested history of Japan.

Customer Reviews (1)

Some fresh perspectives on a stale debate
Few people who study the Yasukuni issue have the ability to examine it from so many diverse perspectives. Breen has done a good job as editor. The sections on the Roman Catholic approach to the shrine and the Chinese (PRC) treatment of Maos' legacy were new to me. Very useful. ... Read more

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Contribution to Western understanding of the nature and manifestations of Shinto through the vast galaxy of historic festivals (matsuri) that are here categorized and analysed. ... Read more

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What really happened back in the first century, in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee, that changed the shape of world history? Who is this figure that emerges from history to have a profound impact on culture, ethics, politics, and philosophy? Join historian John Dickson on this journey through the life of Jesus.This book, which features a self-contained discussion guide for use with Life of Jesus DVD, will help you and your friends dig deeper into what is known about Jesus' life and why it matters. 'John Dickson has done a marvelous job of presenting the story of Jesus, and the full meaning of that story, in a way that is both deeply faithful to the biblical sources and refreshingly relevant to tomorrow's world and church. I strongly recommend this study to anyone who wants to re-examine the deep historical roots of Christian faith and to find them as life-giving as they ever were.'---Tom Wright ... Read more

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Shinto, the "Way of the Gods", was the religion of Japan before the arrival of Buddhism from Korea during the 6th century AD. Central to Shinto beliefs are the "kami", animistic gods perceived in all aspects of nature. They exist in the nooks and crannies of houses and inhabit streams, trees and mountains, while others are sacred to human activities such as agriculture and arts and crafts. The principle rites of appeasing the gods - considered essential to a stable society - include acts of cleansing, gratitude, tolerance and obedience to tradition. This book, documenting an exhibition from Japan, begins with a wide ranging introduction to Shinto which traces its role in Japanese culture. The fully illustrated catalogue contains 110 entries, and each of its five sections opens with an essay by an international scholar. The objects, loaned by museums and religious shrines across the country, include masks, ceramics, mirrors, bells, sculpture, paintings, lacquer, ceremonial clothing, swords and armour. ... Read more

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A book of strange and unusual phenomena reported in the Bible, exploring unexplained and fascinating events. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

What this book is and what it is not
I picked this book up somewhere along the way and I am sure when I bought it I thought that it was something that it is not.

What I thought the book was:

-I thought it was a Graham Hancock-type (ironically, Graham Hancock is referred to in the text of this book) look into some of the oddities of the Bible. What really happened at Jericho? What does the archaelogical record say? Where did Moses and the Israelites cross the Red Sea? Are there possible explanations for a parting of the Red Sea besides a divine one? What about those that claim that Jesus did not really die on the cross? Is the popularly referred to "Swooning" of Jesus an explanation for his resurrection. If not, why not. The kind of stuff you get on the History Channel from time to time

That is not what this book is.

What this book is is a compilation of a number of odd stories from the Bible. They are re-told here in loose categories in no particular order under such topics as "Unlucky Seventies" (times when 70 people died); "Family Customs" (polygamy, circumcision and the like - why they were done) or such ongoing categories such as "Strange but True" and "FAQs". A good feature is the listing of the verses where the strange story can be found in the Bible after every entry.

While well-written, I kept on wondering why it was written. I suppose I was not the target audience. I was quite familiar with 95% of the stories that were told and very little new information on the mysteries themselves were revealed.

So, my recommendation is that if you know your Bible backwards and forwards, this book will have little to offer. If you are relatively new to the study of the Bible, this one may help spur your interest.

For me, I give this one a grade of C+.

What this book is and is not
I picked this book up somewhere along the way and I am sure when I bought it I thought that it was something that it is not.

What I thought the book was:

-I thought it was a Graham Hancock-type (ironically, Graham Hancock is referred to in the text of this book) look into some of the oddities of the Bible. What really happened at Jericho? What does the archaelogical record say? Where did Moses and the Israelites cross the Red Sea? Are there possible explanations for a parting of the Red Sea besides a divine one? What about those that claim that Jesus did not really die on the cross? Is the popularly referred to "Swooning" of Jesus an explanation for his resurrection. If not, why not. The kind of stuff you get on the History Channel from time to time

That is not what this book is.

What this book is is a compilation of a number of odd stories from the Bible. They are re-told here in loose categories in no particular order under such topics as "Unlucky Seventies" (times when 70 people died); "Family Customs" (polygamy, circumcision and the like - why they were done) or such ongoing categories such as "Strange but True" and "FAQs". A good feature is the listing of the verses where the strange story can be found in the Bible after every entry.

While well-written, I kept on wondering why it was written. I suppose I was not the target audience. I was quite familiar with 95% of the stories that were told and very little new information on the mysteries themselves were revealed.

So, my recommendation is that if you know your Bible backwards and forwards, this book will have little to offer. If you are relatively new to the study of the Bible, this one may help spur your interest.

For me, I give this one a grade of C+.

A Great Read!Universal Truths in an easy read fashion!
I fully recommend this book, Makes a lot of the bible truths even clearer and easier to place in perspective. A Must Read ! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

In the name of Iran
This is a great book if you want to learn how certian concept of Zoroastrian faith emerged on Judism, Christianity and Islam; such as, after life, how Auhra Mazda judges people, and good people will be able to pass a bridge and wrong doers will fall off the bridge. There was one point that Zoroastrian did not share with other faith which was fasting.

Last, fire means justice, and Zoroastrian people do not worship fire, as a matter of fact they worship just one God, and call their God Ahura Mazda which means the Wise Lord.

The book briefly discussed how Zoroastrian faith shaped ancient political system in Iran.

It is a nice book to read and have fun.

True message of Zoroaster vs. Traditional Zoroastrianism
If you are interested in the pure message of Zoroaster, this and many other interpretations of the religion are misleading.

They deal generally with the traditional aspect of the religion as we know it today, which is really a mixture of many religious philosophies and practices which appeared before and after Zoroaster, such as Mithraism, Maniism, Mazdakism, Christianity which itself has derived many of it's traditions and concepts like Christmas, "son of god", Easter, etc. from Mithraism and other Iranian religions.

We can conclude that Zoroastrianism in Iran stayed true to Zoroaster's message only through the Achaemenid dynasty, ended by Alexander's invasion of Iran around 300 BC. One major contributor was Alexander's destruction of the royal library at Persepolis which contained the only written text on Zoroastrianism.

After 70 years of Macedonian rule, the Parthians (Iranian dynasty) started recollecting as much as they could to go back to their Zoroastrian roots, but they were not able to separate the true Zoroastrianism from other competing religions of the time.

The truth about Zoroaster's briliant and thought provoking message lies in the 17 simple chapters of Gatha, which is the only direct work of Zoroaster, in existence. His message was about human individuality, equality, truth, unification with the natural order, morality and, in fact, anti organized religion, which he viewed as root of greed and wrong doing in the world around him.

So after reading this and other books about Zoroaster and Zoroastrianism, please pick up the Gatha of Zoroaster and read it. It is available in many languages on-line, for free. And for further understanding, refer to a book called "Zarathustra" by Jalaledin Ashtiani.

Finally some good primary sources
This book is a real gem as is the whole series.Series editor John Hinnels, himself an expert on Zoroastrianism he wrote Zorastrians in Britain, has done a good job of getting many experts to put together the most important sources on the world religions.In this one Mary Boyce, the authority on Zoroastrianism and Professor emeritus at the University of London gives us some basic sources.Anyone studying Zoroastrianism knows that new editions of the primary sources dont come out very often.This book contains only selections of the Avesta, Vendidad and other works unfortunately.However, it does contain many other sources including works from Herodutos, Strabo and my personal favorite a newspaper report of the new Atash Bahram in Bombay dated 1897. This is essential for anyone with an interest in the subject.

Excellent Literary Excavation, Dubious Date
If you're interested in Zoroaster and the religion that came to bear his name, this book is essential reading. In it, Mary Boyce extracts and organizes texts from the now-(I gather)-degenerate form the Avesta has taken in the centuries since the religion became marginalized by Muslim conquest, into a comprehensible, rational sequence covering the the entire history of the religion. The translations are clear. The only caveat I have is her justification of a late Bronze Age date for the time of Zoroaster's life. Other than the archaic language of the Gathas and the simplicity of the society presupposed in the text, she offers no evidence, archaeological or otherwise, for the preservation, transmission, and flowering, in the later Persian empire, of Zoroaster's singular viewpoint. She requires a huge leap of faith the reasonable reader shouldn't have to make. For this reason, William Malandra's "Introduction to Ancient Iranian Religion" is a valuable companion and counterpoint. When reading about archaic language and viewpoints, it's good to keep in mind our own experience with King James English and pastoral religious imagery, in a society where most people speak modern English and have no direct experience shepherds or sheep, except in movies and old-fashioned books!

Excellent Literary Excavation, Dubious Date
If you're interested in Zoroaster and the religion that came to bear his name, this book is essential reading. In it, Mary Boyce extracts and organizes texts from the now-(I gather)-degenerate form the Avesta has taken in the centuries since the religion became marginalized by Muslim conquest, into a comprehensible, rational sequence covering the the entire history of the religion. The translations are clear. The only caveat I have is her justification of a late Bronze Age date for the time of Zoroaster's life. Other than the archaic language of the Gathas and the simplicity of the society presupposed in the text, she offers no evidence, archaeological or otherwise, for the preservation, transmission, and flowering, in the later Persian empire, of Zoroaster's singular viewpoint. She requires a huge leap of faith the reasonable reader shouldn't have to make. For this reason, William Malandra's "Introduction to Ancient Iranian Religion" is a valuable companion and counterpoint. When reading about archaic language and viewpoints, it's good to keep in mind our own experience with King James English and pastoral religious imagery, in a society where people speak modern English and have never seen shepherds or sheep! ... Read more

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Puzzled by a passage in the Old Testament implying that the Ark of theCovenant—the most sacred item in monotheistic Judaism—was not onlytouched by forbidden human hands but that some of its contents had beenremoved, academician Gene Jinsiong Cho set out to learn the fate of thosemissing articles.Based on compelling evidence from linguistics, genetics, archaeology, andanthropology, Cho proposes that the sacred regalia of the ancient Hebrews werecarried by itinerant tribes through centuries of migration across Central Asia andfinally to the Japanese archipelago—where the articles (or their replicas) arepreserved to this day within the great shrines of Japan. ... Read more

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Kabir (1398-1448) was an extraordinary poet whose works have been recited by millions of people throughout northern India for 500 years. He preached a sometimes shocking, always uncompromising message, exhorting his audience to shed their delusions and pretensions in favor of an intense and personal confrontation with truth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

True Heart Poet
This compilation of works is timeless.The translation tries to captivate the urgency and immediacy of the message of Kabir. There is no time to waste in becoming aware of the limitless and infinite nature of the creation - embodied or disembodied, depending on how you look at it, as RAM.Although the collection lacks thorough notation as to where the each selection is found in the vast body of literature attributed to Kabir - thus it is not a scholarly book in the strictest sense and does not intend to be as the co-auther mentions in the foreword.The illustrations are a beautiful and stress the more esoteric, metaphysical nature of Kabir.Kabir is timeless...his message will be a source of divine inspiration for a millenia to come.This translation will also appeal to the newer generations, because they tend to be more questioning of religious dogma.Kabir stresses the Beyond. Kabir says, that anything short of total and perfect balance of body, mind, spirit is not acceptable.Rare are the individuals who can voice simplicity with complexity with such profound verse.If you were going to read one last book before dying - Read THIS One!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of 'History of the Sakya Tradition'
In this precise account, Chogay Trichen traces the history of the Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism from the great Sachen Kunga Nyingpo in the eleventh century to the upholders of the lineage today.The five great Sakya masters, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, Sonam Tsemo, Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen, Sakya Pandita and Chogyal Phakpa are discussed in turn and their teachings and realisations are enumerated.

Chogay Trichen then expounds the influence of the Sakya tradition and describes the principal seats of learning for the Sakyapas, Ngor E-wam Choden and Nalendra.He finishes by discussing his own branch of the Sakya tradition, the Tshar tradition, and other important Sakyapa monasteries.

For people interested in the Sakya tradition this book will provide a good understanding of the founding of the lineage, great masters and the transmission of teachings.I found it very inspiring since it enabled me to distinguish the authentic lines of transmission and filled me with faith and confidence in the teachings of the Sakya tradition. ... Read more

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Sheppherd introduces us to the origins and history of the Baha'i religion since its foundation by Baha'u'llah in Persia at the beginning of the 19th-century. Elements of the Baha'i Faith presents a clear and succinct introduction to the origins, teachings and practices of the Baha'i faith as well as explains its relationship with other faiths. Line illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very informative book for seekers of the Baha'iFaith
This is the best book I have found to accurately explain the Baha'iFaith and it's beliefs. It is personable and basic enough for someone who has never heard of the Faith to understand the message of Baha'u'llah, yet canbe of interest to those who have been Baha'i for a long time. Thehistorical information helps the reader to understand the time period ofthe birth of this Faith. ... Read more

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First published in 1928, Holtom´s study remains the most comprehensive English-language exploration of Japan´s ancient enthronement ceremonies -the objects and costumes, the complex meanings. ... Read more

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Is it true, as they say, the virtues of wisdom, bravery, honor, loyalty, compassion and purity enshrined in the Japanese soul have become lost in the rush of modern civilization? Has the power divine, the spirit of infinite light, love, tears and remembrance, and the courage to die for a noble cause become the stuff old movies in Japan are made of? After more than forty years in Japan I once thought so. But through a revelation of penetrating spiritual observations about the legacy of gods and men enshrined in the Japanese soul the late head priest of tatsuta taisha, the Dragon Shrine, showed me I was wrong.

Where the Trees Grow Thick is a search for a dying fortress called the Yamato spirit The unseen is never easy to find, but searching for it—as I discovered—is like coming to know one’s True Self.

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This study presents the force of Shinto and the human mood, feelings and value-nuances which perpetuate it. . . . The author describes a Shinto shrine: examines the basic myth of creation and the Shinto conception of deity which has grown out of it. Festivals and rites are detailed, as well as the ultimate merging of religion and politics during the Meiji period and the state of Shinto today. ... Read more

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The subject of this volume is the historical development of shintô and national thought in premodern and modern Japan. After examining the first instances of shintô-confucian syncretism in the early Edo period, the author investigates the function of shintô as a religious system to legitimize political power and explores how during the late Edo period this culminates in the concept of a specific Japanese national polity(kokutai).

Though the main caesurae in the process of modern Japanese history (e.g. Meiji restoration and the end of the Pacific War in 1945) play a dominant role in this context, the author points out that the main historical, religious and ideological continuities are of much greater importance; The ideas and concepts elaborated by shintô thinkers during the Edo period became reality in modern Japan. ... Read more

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An in-depth look at the Kurozumi-kyo sect of Shinto, giving readers a deep appreciation of the spiritual values of Japan as well as a detailed exploration of the ongoing influence of the oldest of thirteen official sects of the Meiji period. ... Read more

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The volume collects eight essays from Tsunetsugu Muraoka's innovative work, Studies on the History of Japanese Thought. Although not well known outside Japan, Muraoka's analysis of the special characteristics of Shinto belief and morality, especially his comparative study of the ideas and beliefs of principal participants in the Shinto revival of the pre-Meiji era, have made him Japan's most distinguished scholar of Shinto thought. Here his seminal contributions are made available to a wider audience for the first time. ... Read more

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The English Bible Translation and History, Memorial Edition, is a study of the translations of the Bible from the time of Jerome (404 A.D.) to the publication of the Authorized Version in 1611. This book covers the Reformation in England, the reigns of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, and legislation during this time (1534-1662) frame. It is also a study (604-1750) of the historical, political, and the theological problems relating to Rome, the popes, councils, changes in England and Europe, and the rise of the Protestants and Non-Conformist (1382-1517). Many problems relating to the translations of the Bible into English, and Doctrines of the Roman Church, are also discussed in this book. This study covers (1382-1750) the development of the Vulgate, the translations of John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Martin Luther, the Coverdale Bible, the Great Bible, the Bishop's Bible, the Geneva Bible, the Matthew's Bible, the Rheims-Douay Bible, and the Authorized Version. Related Bible translations, problems, and history are also discussed in this work. This study also discuss the Inquisition (1184), the Great Schism of the Catholic Church (1309-1417), the Index (1557), the rise (1382-1689) of the Reformers, St. Bartholomew Day's Massacre (1572), the printing of various Bibles (1526-1750) in English for Catholics and Protestants and movements in education and reform in England. The Reformers (1382-1611) faced many theological and political problems in trying to bring vernacular translations of the Scriptures to churches members; this study explains many of these theological and historical issues. A bibliography is listed for further study on the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wandering Through Religious History
This book is not a readable history of the translations of the English Bible. The author is obviously well educated and knowledgable, but is unable to express himself in a coherent way. He wanders from one subject and time to another and repeats himself, often on the same page. He spends an inordinate amount of time discussing the error of the Roman Catholic Church (I'm not a Catholic). He seemed to have a hidden agenda, but I'm not sure what it was. This is just a very poorly written book. A total waste of time. ... Read more