Justin Thomas Mcdaniel Libri

"Focusing on representations of the ghost and monk from the late eighteenth century to the present, Justin Thomas McDaniel builds a case for interpreting modern Thai Buddhist practice through the movements of these transformative figures ... Listening to popular Thai Buddhist ghost stories, visiting crowded shrines and temples, he finds concepts of attachment, love, wealth, beauty, entertainment, graciousness, security, and nationalism all spring from engagement with the ghost and the monk and are as vital to the making of Thai Buddhism as venerating the Buddha himself."--Jacket.

The author, an associate professor of religious studies at the University of California, Riverside, brings academic expertise to the exploration of religious themes. His work delves into the complexities of belief systems, cultural practices, and their implications in contemporary society. Through a scholarly lens, he examines how religion shapes human experience and interactions, providing readers with a thought-provoking perspective on the role of faith in various contexts.