Redemptive Encounters: Three Modern Styles in the Hindu Tradition (Paperback)

~ (Author) "My subject is the Hindu religious imagination..." (more)
Key Phrases: Sathya Sai Baba, Soami Bagh, Brahma Kumari (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A great title and matching book. . . . The concise summaries of the three movements are masterfully crafted and aphorismically exhaustive." -- Agehananda Bharati, Social/Cultural Anthropology

"Extraordinarily well-written, and well-informed by current research, yet not overly theory-bound, this volume . . . offers convincing and original state-of-the-art interpretations of some of the most important aspects of modern Indian religious life." -- John A. Taylor, Journal of Anthropological Research

"Fascinatingly readable, probing and instructive. . . . One comes away with an enhanced sense that Hinduism is still as much as ever an indestructible amoeba that keeps on dividing into ever new and adaptable forms." -- Hinduism Today

"Rarely does a writer negotiate as skillfully between the poles of sympathetic and critical understanding in the study of these movements as Lawrence Babb. The result is a work that not only gives us insight into some current socioreligious dynamics in India but also provides a way of coming to terms with that most elusive concept in Indian studies: Hinduism." -- Daniel Gold, The Journal of Asian Studies --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

The three modern Hindu movements that Babb describes so well in this compelling book are prominent today in India as well as in other areas of the world. Babb is directly concerned with the Hindu tradition's capacity to manifest common themes in extremely diverse ways. While there is justification for viewing Hinduism as an inclusive cultural order, the three movements challenge the notion of a single Hindu belief system, for each represents a construction of the world and the human situation quite different from the others. In this clear exploration, Babb challenges readers to perform a careful analysis; to discover the ties that bind Hinduism's diverse doctrines, symbols, attitudes, and principles; and to understand Hinduism's worldwide appeal and its political and social effects.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc (August 17, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577661532
• ISBN-13: 978-1577661535
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #393,206 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)