Religions of China: The World As a Living System

The guiding themes of Chinese religion as it is actually lived! This short work explains basic ideas and practices of Chinese religions in direct and simple language, with many examples and analogies for increased understanding. Its basic assumption is that religion is best understood as an aspect of everyday life--as something that makes sense to those who practice it--even if outsiders might be puzzled at first. While Overmyer's treatment focuses on traditional China before the twentieth century, many of the beliefs and practices described are still alive, at least in some Chinese communities. While the basic concern of this book is, first, to understand Chinese religions in their own right, it takes the additional step of exploring what modern readers might learn from them.