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  Studies in Comparative Religion
The First English Journal on Traditional Studies - established 1963
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Type TitleAuthor/
Reviewed Author*
Author 2/
Reviewer
IssueReligion
Book Review
This in-depth review is of the World Wisdom book "Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World" (by Samdhong Rinpoche, edited by Donovan Roebert). The author was recognized to be the reincarnation of the Fourth Samdhong Rinpoche and he was later elected to be the Kalon Tripa or Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. The reviewer, Samuel Bendeck Sotillos, summarizes the intent of the various wide-ranging sections of the book and he frequently provides quotes from the Rinpoche to illustrate the themes and tone of the book. The review concludes that "These dialogues with Samdhong Rinpoche will provide substantial support to spiritual seekers as they challenge the very assumptions that are crucial to the current era. In fact [Samdhong Rinpoche] makes it clear that the crisis of the post-modern world is no longer isolated in the West alone; it has become a global issue of paramount concern to all peoples."
Uncompromising Truth for a Compromised World: Tibetan Buddhism and Today’s WorldRinpoche, Samdhong *Bendeck Sotillos, Samuel 2009 - Web Edition Buddhism
Book Review
Hungarian writer Róbert Horváth finds that Against the Modern World, by Mark Sedgwick (Oxford University Press, 2004), strangely purports to present a history of Traditionalism, yet the book contains very little of real substance regarding the ideas or writings of the central figures on whom Sedgwick focuses. In addition, Sedgwick has overlooked significant historical precedents before the appearance of Guénon, to whom he traces most of the origins of Perennialism/Tradionalism. The reviewer cites numerous flaws in the content and method of the book, and concludes that it is "practically…a gossip book, nothing more than a new false history."
A Critique (1) of Against the Modern World by Mark SedgwickSedgwick, Mark *Horváth, Róbert 2009 - Web Edition Comparative Religion
Book Review
Michael Fitzgerald's review of Mark Sedgwick's Against the Modern World is a detailed view of Sedwick's study of the history of Traditionalism, taking the author to task for shoddy scholarship and research, possible bias, sensationalization for the purpose of marketing, unsupported conclusions, and, most fundamental of all for a writer undertaking such a project, "a flawed understanding of Traditionalism."
Review (2) of Against the Modern World by Mark SedgwickSedgwick, Mark *Fitzgerald, Michael Oren 2009 - Web Edition Comparative Religion
Book Review
Against the Modern World, written by Mark Sedgwick in 2004, has received much criticism for its lax scholarship. This review adds more detail to the criticism, revealing the extent of Sedgwick's shoddy scholarship, misrepresentations and distortions (intended or unintended), self-contradictions, and lack of clarity in use of terminology. The reviewer concludes that, in short, Sedwick is "unable to comprehend the core elements of his study," which inevitably would result in such a work, which purports to be much more. The review includes some important corrections and clarifications, which would have been of assistance to the work had the author himself been aware of them.
Review (3) of Against the Modern World by Mark SedgwickSedgwick, Mark *Poindexter, Wilson Eliot 2009 - Web Edition Comparative Religion
Book Review
This review of the 2007 World Wisdom book The Underlying Religion, summarizes the various sections, highlights some compelling ideas, gives a few quotations, and concludes that "The beauty of this book is that it provides an introduction to the essential features of the Perennial Philosophy in an understandable and digestible depth and format.…"
The Underlying Religion: An Introduction to the Perennial PhilosophyLings, Martin *Mason, Wendy 2008 - Web Edition Comparative Religion
Article
Sophia PerennisSchuon, Frithjof Vol. 19, No. 3 and 4. ( Summer-Autumn, 1979) Comparative Religion
Article
Leo Schaya was perhaps the most masterful interpreter of Jewish esoterism in the light of perennialist wisdom. In this essay, Schaya offers many keys to understanding the function of the prophet Elijah (or Elias) within Jewish mystical tradition, but then Schaya expands this, still using traditional Jewish sources, to encompass a universal function for Elijah. This mysterious prophet seems to have a function that should apply to all traditional peoples, namely reinvigorating the esoteric dimensions within their respective traditions in times of need. These times of need are particularly acute as the world lurches through its modern paroxysms toward the end of this cycle of time.
The Eliatic FunctionSchaya, Leo Vol. 13, No. 2. ( Spring, 1979) Judaism
Article
Alternations in Semitic MonotheismSchuon, Frithjof Vol. 11, No. 3. ( Summer, 1977) Christianity
Article
Who Speaks for the East?Coomaraswamy, Rama P. Vol. 11, No. 2. ( Spring, 1977) Comparative Religion
Article
Foundation of an Integral AestheticsSchuon, Frithjof Vol. 10, No. 3. ( Summer, 1976) Comparative Religion
Article
The Dragon that Swallowed St. GeorgePerry, Whitall N. Vol. 10, No. 3. ( Summer, 1976) Christianity
Article
Celestial ApparitionsSchuon, Frithjof Vol. 10, No. 2. ( Spring, 1976) Comparative Religion
Article
Modern Science and the Dehumanization of ManSherrard, Philip Vol. 10, No. 2. ( Spring, 1976) Christianity
Article
The Shield of Achilles was god-fashioned for a god-man in the dawn of the age of Iron. It symbolizes, just as Achilles himself personifies, a reversal of the "downward drift of history to degeneration," a remnant of an earlier, primodial state of purity and integral wholeness. The hero and his shield show us material and man caught between two ages and natures: "It was as though for a moment the river of time flowed back on itself in brief eddies, caught up in memories of its source."
The Shield of AchillesCasey, Gerard Vol. 10, No. 2. ( Spring, 1976) Comparative Religion
Article
Author and musician Marco Pallis shares his insights into why certain music, and particularly contrapuntal music, "provides an image of the Universe at the level of 'the Lesser Mysteries'; when practiced with this truth in mind, it will serve as a support of contemplation and the joy it incidentally evokes will be seen as a reflection of the Divine Bliss."
Metaphysics of Musical PolyphonyPallis, Marco Vol. 10, No. 2. ( Spring, 1976) Comparative Religion
Article
In nearly all dimensions of society, the modern rationalist mentality is playing an increasingly greater role in determining how man approaches the various aspects of his life, religion being no exception. This new perspective inevitably leads to a dilemma in the minds of spiritual practitioners: how does one reconcile the apparent conflicts between the religions without simply affirming one and denouncing all others as false? Focusing primarily on the dialogue between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Martin Lings explains how a follower of each of these traditions can recognize the legitimacy of the others. Lings challenges the possibility that God could provide only one path to Salvation while simultaneously allowing such widespread diversity of belief.
'With All Thy Mind'Lings, Martin Vol. 10, No. 1. ( Winter, 1976) Comparative Religion
Article
What Sincerity Is and Is NotSchuon, Frithjof Vol. 9, No. 4. ( Autumn, 1975) Comparative Religion
Article
Whitall Perry poses the question: "Why did Shakespeare with his enormous imagination and intelligence infused by a triple genius—spiritual, psychological, and poetico-dramatic—bother at the very summit of his career to write this play at all?" He replies to his own query with the goal of his article: "…The point of this paper is to demonstrate that the playwright, true to his usual alchemy, is delivering a threefold message simultaneously spiritual, cosmological, and social in bearing."
The Coming of CoriolanusPerry, Whitall N. Vol. 9, No. 4. ( Autumn, 1975) Comparative Religion
Article
Virtue and MoralityLindbom, Tage Vol. 9, No. 4. ( Autumn, 1975) Comparative Religion
Article
On Relics (re-titled: The Function of Relics) Schuon, Frithjof Vol. 9, No. 3. ( Summer, 1975) Christianity
Article
Common Patterns of Eastern and Western ScholasticismPanikkar, Raimundo Vol. 9, No. 3. ( Summer, 1975) Comparative Religion
Article
The Tree Symbol in IslamReat, Noble Ross Vol. 9, No. 3. ( Summer, 1975) Islam
Article
Author Schuon begins this brief survey: "The Western mentality has given rise to four metaphysical perspectives which are either perfect or at least satisfactory as the case may be, namely: Platonism, including Neo-Platonism; Aristotelianism; Scholasticism; Palamism." He then suggests where the works of the philosophers Kierkegaard (in particular), as well as Heidegger and Pascal are situated in regard to those four metaphysical perspectives.
Letter on ExistentialismSchuon, Frithjof Vol. 9, No. 2. ( Spring, 1975) Comparative Religion
Article
Gurdjieff in the Light of Tradition (Part 3)Perry, Whitall N. Vol. 9, No. 2. ( Spring, 1975) Comparative Religion
Article
Gurdjieff in the Light of Tradition (Part 2)Perry, Whitall N. Vol. 9, No. 1. ( Winter, 1975) Comparative Religion
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