The American Encounter with Buddhism 1844-1912 - by Thomas A Tweed (Paperback)

About the Book

American Encounter with Buddhism, 1844-1912: Victorian Culture and the Limits of Dissent

Book Synopsis

In this landmark work, Thomas Tweed examines nineteenth-century America's encounter with one of the world's major religions. Exploring the debates about Buddhism that followed upon its introduction in this country, Tweed shows what happened when the transplanted religious movement came into contact with America's established culture and fundamentally different Protestant tradition.

The book, first published in 1992, traces the efforts of various American interpreters to make sense of Buddhism in Western terms. Tweed demonstrates that while many of those interested in Buddhism considered themselves dissenters from American culture, they did not abandon some of the basic values they shared with their fellow Victorians. In the end, the Victorian understanding of Buddhism, even for its most enthusiastic proponents, was significantly shaped by the prevailing culture. Although Buddhism attracted much attention, it ultimately failed to build enduring institutions or gain significant numbers of adherents in the nineteenth century. Not until the following century did a cultural environment more conducive to Buddhism's taking root in America develop.

In a new preface, Tweed addresses Buddhism's growing influence in contemporary American culture.

Review Quotes

An important and original contribution to American intellectual and social history. (Robert S. Ellwood, ("Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography")

Indispensable reading for anyone interested in the history of Buddhism in America. (Jan Nattier, Indiana University)

This book is an important contribution to the sometime rancorous debate about what American Buddhism ought to look like and how it can best be adapted to American culture in ways that will insure both its success in the future and its integrity. (Richard Hughes Seager, Hamilton College)

This is one of the finest books I have read in a long time. (William H. Swatos, Jr., "Sociology of Religion"

"An important and original contribution to American intellectual and social history. (Robert S. Ellwood, ("Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography")"

"Indispensable reading for anyone interested in the history of Buddhism in America. (Jan Nattier, Indiana University)"

"This book is an important contribution to the sometime rancorous debate about what American Buddhism ought to look like and how it can best be adapted to American culture in ways that will insure both its success in the future and its integrity. (Richard Hughes Seager, Hamilton College)"

"This is one of the finest books I have read in a long time. (William H. Swatos, Jr., "Sociology of Religion""