In Defense of Dharma: Just-war Ideology in Buddhist Sri LankaThis is the first book to examine war and violence in Sri Lanka through the lens of cross-cultural studies on just-war tradition and theory. In a study that is textual, historical and anthropological, it is argued that the ongoing Sinhala-Tamil conflict is in actual practice often justified by a resort to religious stories that allow for war when Buddhism is in peril. Though Buddhism is commonly assumed to be a religion that never allows for war, this study suggests otherwise, thereby bringing Buddhism into the ethical dialogue on religion and war. Without a realistic consideration of just-war thinking in contemporary Sri Lanka, it will remain impossible to understand the power of religion there to create both peace and war. |
Contents
Narrative ethics and war | 1 |
Justwar thinking in texts and contexts | 32 |
Dharma yuddhaya and dharma warriors in Sri Lanka | 68 |
Buddhism pacifism war and ethical orientations | 101 |
Sri Lankan Buddhism and justwar thinking revisited | 136 |
Notes | 168 |
| 195 | |
Primary sources | 201 |
| 202 | |
Other editions - View all
In Defense of Dharma: Just-War Ideology in Buddhist Sri Lanka Tessa J. Bartholomeusz Limited preview - 2005 |
In Defense of Dharma: Just-War Ideology in Buddhist Sri Lanka Tessa J. Bartholomeusz No preview available - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
according arahants argued army Aryasinghe Bauddha Peramuna Buddha Buddhism in Sri Buddhist ethics Buddhist Fundamentalism Buddhist monks Buddhist Sri Lanka Buultjens C. R. de Silva cakkavatti Childress Christian claim Colombo conflict contemporary Sri Lanka context culture damilas defense devolution dharma yuddhaya Dharmapala Digha Nikaya discussion Dutugemunu Eelam Elara facie duties government's H. L. Seneviratne Hauerwas holy Ibid idea Identities in Sri ideology instance interviewed island Jayewardene July just-war thinking justified killing Kumaratunga Lakshman Kadirgamar legitimate LTTE Mahavamsa military metaphors monk's moral Moreover Muslim narratives nation Nikaya non-violence Obeyesekere pacifism Pali canon peace political Premadasa prima facie duties protect religion righteous Samyutta Nikaya sangha satyakriya saw in Chapter scholars Sinhala Sinhala-Buddhist Sinhalese Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Buddhist stories suggests Sutta T. J. Bartholomeusz Tambiah Tamil teaching Tessa texts Thera Theravada Buddhism Theravadin Buddhist tradition University Press Venerable Sobitha Vesak violence world conqueror world renouncer