Summary

For the first time in world history, every major form of Buddhism is practiced in one nation—the United States. Buddhist Faith in America, Third Edition describes how this ancient faith has been as deeply affected by America as America has been affected by it.

Buddhism is one of the world's oldest and most widely practiced faiths, but in America, it has a relatively short history. However, in the short time it has flourished here, the faith has influenced Americans from all walks of life from celebrities and sports stars to ordinary people and politicians, and many Americans have embraced the philosophy behind Buddhism. This eBook explores how Asian immigrants have brought Buddhism to America and enjoyed the freedom to practice their beliefs without constraints. It describes the basic tenets of the three major schools of Buddhism; the relationship between various Buddhist immigrant communities and American Buddhists; the emergence of the socially engaged Buddhist; and Buddhism's influence on American culture and society.

New and updated coverage includes:

• Changes in immigration and the impact on American Buddhism
• Buddhism and the environment
• Black Buddhists in America today
• The role of women in American Buddhism
• The connection between science and Buddhism
• The next generation of American Buddhists

Specifications

eBook

About the Author(s)

Series Editor J. Gordon Melton is distinguished professor emeritus of American religious history at Baylor University's Institute for Studies in Religion. He also served as the director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Woodway, Texas. He is the author or editor of dozens of books on religion, including Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions; Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Belief and Practice; Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations; and Encyclopedia of Protestantism, part of the six-volume Encyclopedia of World Religions set, which he edited for Facts On File.

Author Michael Burgan has written numerous books for young adults. Many of his books have focused on history, geography, and the lives of world leaders.

Author Laura J. Vollmer is an independent scholar and a prolific writer, with numerous contributions to academic works on a variety of topics related to religion, science, culture, health, and politics. She wrote a monograph on theory and method in the study of religion, The Relationality of Religion and Science: Toward a New Discourse-analytical Framework (Brill, forthcoming). Currently, she is writing a book with the working title A Dream Come True: How Dreams Have Shaped the History of Religion and Society. Dr. Vollmer has also been a freelance academic editor for over 10 years, working with multiple peer-reviewed journals and books, including the Journal of Religion in Europe and Numen: International Review for the History of Religions. In the past, she has worked as an adjunct instructor at Washington University's University College in the Department of Religious Studies.