Compassionate apocalypse: Slavoj Zizek and Buddhism
Since his rising interest in Christianity, Slavoj Zizek has discussed many other religions. This article examines his engagement with Buddhism, which he often uses as a stand in for "Oriental spirituality." For Zizek, Buddhist traditions lack several key features that make Christianity the...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[2017]
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| In: |
Critical research on religion
Year: 2017, Volume: 5, Issue: 1, Pages: 34-47 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Žižek, Slavoj 1949-
/ Subject (Philosophy)
/ Buddhism
/ Rejection of
/ Lacan, Jacques 1901-1981
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| IxTheo Classification: | AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism BL Buddhism CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations VA Philosophy |
| Further subjects: | B
Buddhism
B Subjectivity B Christianity B Orientalism B Political Theology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | Since his rising interest in Christianity, Slavoj Zizek has discussed many other religions. This article examines his engagement with Buddhism, which he often uses as a stand in for "Oriental spirituality." For Zizek, Buddhist traditions lack several key features that make Christianity the best prospect for religious political organization. By examining the reasons behind his rejection of Buddhism through his defence of the Subject and the state of Fallenness, the argument will be presented that Zizek's at times negative position on Buddhism can be explained through his commitment to a Lacanian reading of the Cartesian subject. This allegiance means that for Zizek there can never be a harmonious state for the subject, and accepting this provides the subject with a "divine" freedom. This article will also discuss ways in which Zizek's particularism can be overcome without losing the "apocalyptic fervor" of Christian Communist politics. |
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| ISSN: | 2050-3040 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Critical research on religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/2050303216676521 |