Ebook Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur
Well, still puzzled of how you can get this e-book Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur here without going outside? Simply attach your computer or device to the net as well as begin downloading and install Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur Where? This page will certainly reveal you the web link page to download Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur You never ever worry, your favourite publication will be sooner all yours now. It will certainly be considerably less complicated to enjoy reading Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur by online or getting the soft data on your device. It will despite which you are and also exactly what you are. This book Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur is composed for public and you are among them that could delight in reading of this book Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur
Ebook Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur
Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur Just how can you alter your mind to be more open? There lots of resources that can aid you to improve your thoughts. It can be from the various other encounters as well as tale from some individuals. Book Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur is one of the trusted sources to get. You could find numerous books that we share here in this site. And also now, we show you one of the most effective, the Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur
As understood, many individuals state that publications are the vinyl windows for the globe. It doesn't imply that buying book Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur will suggest that you can acquire this globe. Merely for joke! Checking out a publication Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur will opened somebody to assume much better, to maintain smile, to amuse themselves, and also to motivate the expertise. Every publication additionally has their particular to influence the reader. Have you understood why you review this Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur for?
Well, still puzzled of how to get this publication Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur right here without going outside? Just attach your computer system or device to the internet as well as begin downloading Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur Where? This web page will certainly reveal you the web link page to download and install Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur You never ever stress, your favourite book will certainly be sooner yours now. It will certainly be considerably simpler to delight in checking out Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur by online or obtaining the soft documents on your kitchen appliance. It will regardless of which you are and also what you are. This book Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur is written for public as well as you are just one of them who can enjoy reading of this publication Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur
Investing the downtime by reading Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur could supply such terrific encounter even you are just seating on your chair in the office or in your bed. It will not curse your time. This Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur will certainly assist you to have more priceless time while taking remainder. It is really enjoyable when at the noon, with a mug of coffee or tea as well as a publication Liquid Life: Abortion And Buddhism In Japan, By William R. LaFleur in your device or computer display. By enjoying the views around, below you could start reviewing.
Why would a country strongly influenced by Buddhism's reverence for life allow legalized, widely used abortion? Equally puzzling to many Westerners is the Japanese practice of mizuko rites, in which the parents of aborted fetuses pray for the well-being of these rejected "lives." In this provocative investigation, William LaFleur examines abortion as a window on the culture and ethics of Japan. At the same time he contributes to the Western debate on abortion, exploring how the Japanese resolve their conflicting emotions privately and avoid the pro-life/pro-choice politics that sharply divide Americans on the issue.
- Sales Rank: #998207 in Books
- Brand: Brand: Princeton University Press
- Published on: 1994-10-17
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.25" h x .64" w x 6.00" l, .82 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 275 pages
- Used Book in Good Condition
Review
"This is a first-rate cross-cultural study, taking the reader to the heart of another society's beliefs and practices."--Mark Archer, The Sunday Telegraph
"Both Buddhism and abortion flourish in modern Japan: the link between them is death. William LaFleur explains how this has come about, and in doing so provides an unusual insight into the character of modern Japan, where death is a big-money operation both for medicine and for religion."--Thomas Crump, London Review of Books
"Objective, informed, observant, and imaginative. William LaFleur not only enlarges our knowledge, he also uses his single topic to illuminate a broad and fundamental feature of Japanese society itself."--Donald Richie, Japan Times Weekly
Most helpful customer reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Brilliant and Necessary
By Lynn Hoffman, author:Radiation Days: A Comedy
This is, of course, a book about Japan and Japanese attitudes
toward birth, death and the fragility of life. Because it is
also a book about abortion, it also touches on an issue that
is incredibly hot in America even as abortion has become
an uncontroversial fact of life in most of the rest of the
world.
So it is a tribute to the author's scholarship as well as to
the scope of his world view that he stays true to the business
of explaining a Japanese Buddhist take on the world without
overtly indulging in taking sides in the American controversy.
It' a tribute to his depth of understanding that in spite of
this lack of partisanship, this splendid book has something to
teach us all and some light to shed on the American debate.
It would oversimplify LaFleur's arguement to sum it up, but one
thread is something like this. The Japanese view of a newborn
is that it is a potential life. This view is even more emphatic
in the case of an unborn-a foetus. People become people in
this view by a gradual process of socialization.
Rather than being heartless, this way of looking at things has
a great deal to recommend it-especially in days when infant
mortality was high. Parents who lost a new-born or an unborn
child could pray for the return of that child in a subsequent
pregnancy. The ritual system, which provided no funeral for
one who died so young, affirmed the tentative nature of the
dead one's membership in the human community.
If it takes socialization to make a human and a family to make
socialization, then it is also up to the community and the
family to decide if that's going to happen at all. In this
view, life in infancy is a liquid that hardens into indiv-
iduality with time.
So infant death and miscarriage are sad, but not final. The
unborn child gets to come around again, maybe with better karma.
This, of course, removes abortion from the realm of murder/
choice. It also forces all of us to see our various positons
in the American debate as products of our social and religious
assumptions just as the Japanese view is the product of theirs.
Again, this is not a book about the American abortion wars.
It is instead, a splendid book about Japanese religious beliefs
across a swath of history and how they affect attitudes. By
staying true to his topic, LaFleur teaches us a great deal.
--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN
9781601640005
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Not just a book about Japan...
By Michael Valdivielso
William R. LaFleur gives us a book which is well made. Piece by piece Mr. LaFleur goes over the history of abortion, buddhism, family planning, sexuality attitudes and even woman's lib in Japan. By the time he reaches his conclusion, you can't help but feel like you, yourself, have also researched and processed all the information.
Near the end, when he compares the Japanese ideas to American ideas on the issue, you can't help but feel that maybe it was all a well placed trap, to get you to look at the whole mess from a different point of view, not just the pro-life/pro-choice, good/bad, yes/no, on/off American way (where every issue only has two sides and the winner gets total victory, so no mercy!)
You might not like some of the points made, but it will sure force you to think.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
An Excellent Book, Well Written and Well Researched
By A Customer
I can heartily recommend this book. I once took a course taught by LaFleur which was one of the best courses on understanding Japanese Buddhism and the practice of abortion. This book matches his good lecturing style.
What is interesting is that in the West abortion is viewed in primarily negative terms, as is infanticide. LaFleur's initial attitude was: How can Japanese engage in this kind of activity on such a large scale? What role does belief in reincarnation (according to Buddhism) play?
Rather than bringing in Western moral preconceptions that might prejudge his discussion, LaFleur treats this sensitive topic with great insight and sensitivity. This book will be a very interesting read for those interested in Japanese society and Buddhism.
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur PDF
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur EPub
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur Doc
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur iBooks
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur rtf
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur Mobipocket
Liquid Life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan, by William R. LaFleur Kindle