In Defense of Dharma: Just-War Ideology in Buddhist Sri Lanka

Book Description
This 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.


Buy from Amazon     Compare Prices

This is the first book to examine war and violence in Sri Lanka from the perspective 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 often justified by resorting to religious stories that allow for war when Buddhism is in peril. Since Buddhism is often commonly assumed to be a religion that never allows for war, this book - by suggesting otherwise - brings 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 existing power of religion that can create both peace and war.


Buy from Barnes & Noble     Compare Prices