Zen War Stories

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book
Review: This well researched and controversial book makes a deep impression. It raises crucially important questions about the relationship between religion and state as well as casting new light upon twentieth century Japanese history. That even Buddhism, in theory the most peaceful of creeds, could have been so extensively corrupted by a military agenda, gives one many
insights into human nature, not least, by comparison, into the contemporary phenomenon of guerrilla fundamentalists and their crusading patriotic opponents. The book contains a wealth of fascinating original source material, a feature that not only brings home the reality of war and its moral dilemmas, but also, most importantly, enables the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. An excellent book.