BQOK REVIEWS RELIGIONS Or the FAR EAST
BQOK REVIEWS RELIGIONS or THE FAR EAST. By George C. Ring, SJ. Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing Co., 1950. Pp. 350. $6.00. It is generally conceded that the average American's knowledge of the short course of events which comprise the history of his own nation, except for a few famous names and dates which have been dinned into his conscious ness, is woefully vague and leaves much to be desired. And when it comes to the cultural, religious, or historical background of nations more physically removed in space, especially of those which have been traditionally con sidered primitive, occult, and inferior, such as the nations of the Orient, a state of ignorance is approached which may well be called abysmal. Here again, a few key names such as Confucius, Buddha, and Mohammed may be known, or terms such as Nirvana or Zen may be recalled, but even in cul tured and educated circles it would be difficult to find anyone able to develop these themes with accuracy, intelligence, or understanding. Father Ring has done just that. At a time when oriental nations are intruding themselves upon our international consciousness, he has brought forth a brief but accurate and highly readable account of their corporate vicissitudes with divinity, and the external manifestations of this in their national existence. The word "brief" is used with regard to this book only in a relative sense; it is brief in relation to the vastness of its subject matter. And on this ac count it must be said that second only to Father Ring's precise, scholarly research is to be placed his power to endow necessary catalogues of persons, places, and dates with vivid and sustained interest.
[Show full text]