American Transcendentalism and Asian ReligionsThe first major study since the 1930s of the relationship between American Transcendentalism and Asian religions, and the first comprehensive work to include post-Civil War Transcendentalists like Samuel Johnson, this book is encyclopedic in scope. Beginning with the inception of Transcendentalist Orientalism in Europe, Versluis covers the entire history of American Transcendentalism into the twentieth century, and the profound influence of Orientalism on the movement--including its analogues and influences in world religious dialogue. He examines what he calls "positive Orientalism," which recognizes the value and perennial truths in Asian religions and cultures, not only in the writings of major figures like Thoreau and Emerson, but also in contemporary popular magazines. Versluis's exploration of the impact of Transcendentalism on the twentieth-century study of comparative religions has ramifications for the study of religious history, comparative religion, literature, politics, history, and art history. |
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Contents
Transcendentalism and the Orient | 3 |
The First Meetings of East and West | 16 |
3 Emerson Thoreau Alcott and the Orient | 51 |
Melville and Brownson | 119 |
Orientalism in GeneralInterest American Magazines | 139 |
6 Ambience and Embodiment of Transcendental Dreams | 172 |
7 Transcendentalist Periodicals and the Orient | 184 |
The Orient and the Second Cycle of Transcendentalism | 235 |
9 Conclusion | 305 |
Bibliography | 329 |
Index | 351 |
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Common terms and phrases
A. K. Coomaraswamy Alcott Alger American Transcendentalism Asia Asian religions assimilation attempts believe Bhagavad Gita Boston Brahma Brownson Buddha Buddhism China Chinese Christianity Clarke's comparative religion Confucian Confucius Conway Conway's cultures dentalist Dial discussion divine doctrine East Eastern teachings Emerson and Thoreau Emersonian Transcendentalism essay European faith Frothingham Gnostic Harbinger Hegel Hindoo Hindu Hinduism Ibid India influence intellectual interest Islam James Freeman Clarke journal late Transcendentalists later Laws of Manu literary religion Lydia Maria Child Melville Melville's mind missionaries moral movement mysticism nature Neoplatonic nineteenth century Oriental Religions Orientalist Peabody Persian philosophy Platonic poem poetry progress Radical references regard religious traditions René Guénon sacred Samuel Johnson scendentalists scriptures self-transcendence Sir William Jones soul spiritual Taoism texts thought Tran transcendence Transcendentalist periodicals translation truth Unitarian universal religion Vedanta Vedas Vishnu vision Walden Weiss Western Messenger world religions worship writing wrote York