Description
First published in 1995. This study is intended as a contribution to the empirical study of religion, and in particular to the study of religious change. Using empirical method of using documents, interviews and experiments the author tests his old hypotheses in order to formulate new ones that my lead him to the truth. He focusses on the distinctions used throughout this book, that are between what people say they believe and say they do, and what they really believe and really do, using his research of the Sinhalese Buddhists in Ceylon
Table of Contents
Introduction - aims and scope of the book; the problem - religious change; why Ceylon?; history, geography and economy of Ceylon; field-work and presentation; Sinhalese Buddhism - orthodox or syncretistic?; basic vocabulary of Buddhism; the Buddha; the Buddha's biography; the Buddha as worshipped - man or god?; a sketch of the universe as seen from Migala; causation; contents of the universe; attempts to influence non-human beings; summary; total responsibility in theory and practice; the ethics of intention; the monastic ideal and the decline of Buddhism; caste in the monastery
