Godrejsplender: adding...

2026-03-08T03:08:49Z

adding...

New page

{{Short description|1916 book by Max Weber}}{{Infobox book
| author = [[Max Weber]]
| pub_date = 1916
| title_orig = Hinduismus und Buddhismus
| name = The Religion of India: The Sociology of Hinduism and Buddhism
| image = File:The_Religion_of_India.png
| caption = Title page for ''The Religion of India'' (1958 edition)
}}

{{italic title}}
{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=August 2010}}
{{one source|date=August 2010}}
}}
{{About|the book|religious demographics of the Republic of India|Religion in India|the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent|Indian religions|the religions of indigenous peoples of North America|Native American religions}}
'''''The Religion of India: The Sociology of Hinduism and Buddhism''''' is a book on the [[sociology of religion]] written by [[Max Weber]], a German [[economist]] and [[sociologist]] of the early twentieth century. The original edition was in German under the title '''''Hinduismus und Buddhismus''''' and published in 1916.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://studysites.sagepub.com/mcdonaldizationstudy5/references.htm|title=General References|website=studysites.sagepub.com}}</ref> An English translation was made in 1958 and several editions have been released since then.

It was his third major work on the sociology of religion, after ''[[The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]]'' (1905) and ''[[The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism]]'' (1915). In this work he deals with the structure of Indian [[society]], with the [[orthodoxy|orthodox]] [[doctrine]]s of [[Hinduism]] and the [[heterodoxy|heterodox]] doctrines of [[Buddhism]], with the changes wrought by popular [[religiosity]] and their influence on the [[secular]] [[ethic]] of Indian society.<ref name=rb142>Reinhard Bendix, ''Max Weber: an intellectual portrait'', University of California Press, 1977, p.142</ref>

==The Hindu social system==

The Indian social system was influenced by the concept of [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]].<ref name=rb142/> It directly linked religious belief and the segregation of society into [[status group]]s. Weber goes on to describe the Varna system (the [[Brahmin]]s – priests, the [[Kshatriya]]s – warriors, the [[Vaishya]]s – merchants, the [[Shudra]]s – laborers and the [[Dalit|Untouchable]]).

Weber pays special attention to Brahmins and considers why they occupied the highest place in Indian society for many centuries. With regards to the concept of [[dharma]] he concludes that the Indian ethical pluralism is very different both from the universal ethic of [[Confucianism]] and [[Christianity]]. He notes that the varna system prevented the development of urban status groups.<ref name=rb147-148>Reinhard Bendix, ''Max Weber: an intellectual portrait'', University of California Press, 1977, p.147-148</ref>

==Hindu orthodoxy and Brahmin restoration==

After the structure of the society, Weber analysed the Hindu religious beliefs – [[asceticism]] and the Hindu view of the world, the Brahman orthodox doctrines, the rise and fall of Buddhism in India, the Hindu restoration and the evolution of [[guru]].

==Secular ethic and impact of Hindu beliefs on economy==

Weber discussed what influence Hinduism and Buddhism had on the mundane activities, and how they impacted the economy. He noted the idea of unchanging world order consisting of the eternal [[rebirth (Buddhism)|cycle]]s of [[Rebirth (Buddhism)|rebirth]], and the deprecation of mundane world.<ref name=rb193>Reinhard Bendix, ''Max Weber: an intellectual portrait'', University of California Press, 1977, p.193</ref> By the [[tradition]]alism of the Varna system supported by the dharma, the economic development is slowed as, – according to Weber – the "spirit" of the varna system worked against the development of [[capitalism]].<ref name=rb196>Reinhard Bendix, ''Max Weber: an intellectual portrait'', University of California Press, 1977, p.196</ref>

==Asian belief system==

Weber ended his research of society and religion in India by bringing in insights from [[The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism|his previous work on China]] to discuss similarities of the Asian belief systems. He notes that the beliefs saw the meaning of life as otherworldy [[Mysticism|mystical]] experience. The social world is fundamentally divided between the educated elite, following the guidance of a [[prophet]] or wise man, and the uneducated masses whose beliefs are centered on [[magic (paranormal)|magic]]. In Asia, there was no [[Messianic prophecy]] to ''plan and meaning to the everyday life of educated and uneducated alike''. Weber juxtaposed such Messianic prophecies, notably from the [[Near East]] region to those found on the [[Asia]]tic mainland, focusing more on exemplary ways to live one's life. It was those differences that prevented the countries of the [[Western world|Occident]] from following the paths of the earlier Chinese and Indian civilizations. His next work, [[Ancient Judaism (book)|Ancient Judaism]] was an attempt to prove this theory.<ref name=rb199-201>Reinhard Bendix, ''Max Weber: an intellectual portrait'', University of California Press, 1977, p.199-201</ref>

==See also==
* [[Outline of Hinduism]]
* [[Index of Buddhism-related articles]]
* [[Sociology of religion]]
* [[Secularism in India]]
* [[Secular Buddhism]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Max Weber}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Religion Of India The Sociology Of Hinduism And Buddhism}}
[[Category:1916 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Books about Buddhism]]
[[Category:Books about Hinduism]]
[[Category:Books about religion in India]]
[[Category:Books by Max Weber]]
[[Category:Indian religions]]
[[Category:Religious studies books]]
[[Category:Books about the sociology of religion]]
[[Category:History books about India]]

The Religion of India - Revision history

Godrejsplender: adding...