This book is a comparative macrosociological study of the
interaction between religious virtuosi and society in two
civilizations: traditional Theravada Buddhism and Medieval
Catholicism. Merging Weberian sociology with the Maussian tradition
of gift-analysis, and criticizing the neglect of meaning in current
comparative historical sociology, the author also argues the need
for a multidimensional approach capable of addressing the part
played by religious orientations in shaping the institutional
strength and ideological power of religious elites in the
historical framework of the Great Traditions.
目錄:
Part I. Virtuosi and Society: Elements of
Macrosociological
Approach:
1. The Weberian legacy
2. Monasticism and social order: a multidimensional
perspective:
Part II. Virtuosi asnd Society in Theravada Buddhism:
3. Ideological groundings: hierarchy and ritualized exchange
4. Virtuosity institutionalized
The Sangha in Social Context
5. Virtuoso radicalism: the triumph of a syndrome
Part III. Virtuosi and Society in Medieval Catholicism:
6. Ideological groundings: plurality and conditional exchange
7. Virtuosity institutionalized: monasticism in social
context
8. Virtuoso radicalism: a self-defeating triumph
Part IV. Virtuosity, Charisma and Social Order:
9. Virtuosity and the virtuoso-society syndrome
10. The virtuoso syndrome in comparative historical
perspective
Conclusion