Opening the doors of wonder : reflections on religious rites of passage / Arthur J. Magida.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Magida, Arthur J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ritual.

Rites and ceremonies.

Religions.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (305 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This bold, pioneering book explores rites of passage in America by sifting through the accounts of influential thinkers who experienced them. Arthur J. Magida explains the underlying theologies, evolution, and actual practice of Jewish bar and bat mitzvahs, Christian confirmations, Hindu sacred thread ceremonies, Muslim shahadas and Zen jukai ceremonies. In rare interviews, renowned artists and intellectuals such as Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, holistic guru Deepak Chopra, singer Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), actress/comedienne Julia Sweeney, cartoonist Roz Chast, interfaith maven Huston Smith, and many more talk intimately about their religious backgrounds, the rites of passage they went through, and how these events shaped who they are today. Magida compares these coming of age ceremonies' origins and evolution, considers their ultimate meaning and purpose, and gauges how their meaning changes with individuals over time. He also examines innovative rites of passage that are now being "invented" in the United States. Passionate and lyrical, this absorbing book reveals our deep, ultimate need for coming-of-age events, especially in a society as fluid as ours. Conversations with: Bob Abernethy, Huston Smith, Julia Sweeney, Roz Chast, Harold Kushner, Ram Dass, Elie Wiesel, Deepak Chopra, Robert Thurman, Coleman Barks, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), And others

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Prologue

Introduction: Sometimes, The Magic Works

1. The Descent Of The Spirit

2. Bob Abernethy: No Fundamental, Life-Changing Experience

3. Chinua Achebe: What Makes Someone Give Up Their Religion?

4. Huston Smith: Religion Saturated The House

5. Julia Sweeney: That Soldier-Of-Christ, Slap-Across-The- Face Stuff Is Sick

6. Jim Zogby: The Wal-Mart-Ization Of The Church

7. What, Really, Is A Man?

8. Leon Botstein: I'M Tone-Deaf To Belief

9. Roz Chast: I Was Like A Spy. Like A Closet Jew

10. Rabbi Harold Kushner: I Wanted To Make My Parents Proud

11. Letty And Abigail Pogrebin, Mother And Daughter: "You Are A Woman" Meant "You Do The Dishes"

12. Ram Dass: Mushrooms Gave Me What I Could Have Had At My Bar Mitzvah

13. Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin: Israel And I Came Of Age Together

14. Elie Wiesel: I Am Not God's Policeman

15. The Thread Of Life

16. Deepak And Gotham Chopra, Father And Son: Religion Is Frequently Idiotic

17. Waking Up

18. Roshi John Daido Loori: Born A Buddha. Die A Buddha

19. Robert Thurman: I Looked Like Henry Miller In Drag

20. Allah Is One

21. Coleman Barks: Just Being Sentient Is Cause For Rapture

22. Dr. Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens): Floating On A Cloud Of Mercy

23. Michael Wolfe: I Feel Like A Monotheist With Extra Credentials

Epilogue: Would Anyone Riding By On A Horse Even Notice?

Notes

Acknowledgments

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-289).

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9786612360572

9781282360570

1282360574

9780520941717

0520941713

9781601295248

1601295243

OCLC:

647604601