Religion and Science in the Mirror of Buddhism

This book offers a Buddhist perspective on the conflict between religion and science in contemporary western society. Examining Buddhist history, authors Francisca Cho and Richard K. Squier offer a comparative analysis of Buddhist and western scientific epistemologies that transcends the limitations of non-Buddhist approaches to the subject of religion and science. The book is appropriate for undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in comparative religion or in the intersection of religion and science and Buddhist Studies.

Preface. List of Abbreviations. Introduction: The Mirror of Buddhism. Chapter One: Comparative Empiricisms. Chapter Two: Myth, Logic, and the Logic of Mythology. Chapter Three: Does the Buddha Tell Lies? Getting Beyond the Literal and Metaphorical. Chapter Four: Zen Masters and Their Way With Words. Chapter Five: How to be an Enlightened Materialist. Chapter Six: Reflecting on the Buddha to Reflect on Ourselves.

Francisca Cho is Associate Professor of Buddhist studies at Georgetown University. Her main research topic is the aesthetic expression of Buddhism through fiction, poetry and film. The methodology of comparative studies is a key focus in her work on religion and science.

Richard K. Squier received his PhD in computer science from Princeton University in 1991, and is currently on the faculty of the Computer Science Department, Georgetown University. He is interested in the physical limitations of computation and its application to human communication.