Customer Reviews

Religious Violence in Contemporary Japan: The Case of Aum Shinrikyo

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It seems that most books about the Aum Shinrikyou concentrate on the gas attacks of March 20, 1995. Of course this is extraodinarily important, but it is only a small piece of the puzzle because Aum Shinrikyou and its founder Asahara Shoko are much more complex. Reader gives the reader a very detailed look into the early days of Aum and its 's founding by Asahara, and he gives detailed entires of Asahara's sermons giving a step by steo analysis of how Aum went from a yoga group to one bent on the destruction of the world. A wonderful book that peels back many of the mysteries of Aum.

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.

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