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

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910784407603321
• Autore: Magida Arthur J
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Berkeley, : University of California Press, c2006
• ISBN: 1-282-36057-4; 9786612360572; 0-520-94171-3; 1-60129-524-3
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (305 p.)
• Disciplina: 203/.82
• Soggetti: Ritual; Rites and ceremonies; Religions
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-289).
• Nota di contenuto: 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
• Sommario/riassunto: 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