Review
"...a learned analysis....Silber's book should quickly become a classic in comparative religious research and deserves a place on the syllabus of any graduate course in the field." Sociology of Religion

"...Silber's account is largely convincing, and her intention can only be applauded. The book will be essential reading for those interested in Weberian scholarship, especially for its conceptualization of religious virtuosity and its treatment of the "worldly facets of otherworldly religious orientations." For specialists in medieval Christianity and Theravada Buddhism the book offers an insightful and provocative interpretation of the literature. Moreover, sociologists of culture will find a stimulating empirical exploration of the issues involved in the relation between culture and structure." American Journal of Sociology

"...Silber's analysis of the material raises new theoretical questions and suggests some cogent answers. ...well-worth attending to. An important contribution to comparative historical sociology." Choice


Book Description
This is a comparative study of the interaction between monasticism and society in Theravada Buddhism and medieval Catholicism. Building on Weber's classical analysis of religious virtuosity on one hand, and opposing recent comparative historical sociology's neglect of structures of meaning on the other, the author demonstrates the combined impact of religious orientations, macrosocietal structures, and virtuoso radicalism in shaping the ideological power of religious elites in the historical framework of the Great Traditions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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.

FROM THE CRITICS

Mavis Fenn - Journal of Buddhist Ethics \

Silber's approach is ideal for a study of Theravaada Buddhism because...the salvational orientations of the virtuosi are an integral part of the relationship between those virtuosi and society both on an individual and institutional level....Silber['s]...careful delineation of the historical, cultural, and religious dimensions of the two traditions involved in her study shows that solid comparative work is possible. Her careful and detailed argument throughout lends weight to her conclusions.

Mavis Fenn - Journal of Buddhist Ethics