As you walk through a Thai temple; a host of unfamiliar objects; shapes and patterns tug at you from every direction. This handy and lucid guidebook will help you distinguish what is what. It takes you through a representative Thai Buddhist temple; guiding you from structure to structure and element to element; explaining the function and purpose of each; and the symbolism behind the forms. A Thai wat can be a place of bewildering beauty; but this illustrated companion will help you focus your eyes and identify what you see. Tourists and residents; novices and scholars will gain a clearer sense of what a wat is and the role it plays today in the lives of Thai people.
#3539100 in Books Foundation University Press 2011-12-25Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .58 x 5.51l; .72 #File Name: 9490179116254 pages
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. More than just a 'Christian Response'By Sean RobinsonThe Israel/Palestine conflict is often and incorrectly presented as an entirely religious issue.Even if the political and economic dimensions are recognised; at its most banal; the conflict can still be incorrectly thought of as two sides having equally legitimate claims to the same land and that the current situation is inevitable and simply unfortunate.In his book; Craig Nielsen correctly identifies the root of the conflict as the ongoing Israeli military occupation and colonization of Palestinian land. He describes the asymmetry of power between the Israeli colonizers and the Palestinian colonized and the horrible human cost that this; as any other; colonial project has had.Historically; the oppression of an indigenous population by a colonial power has had many official justifications; one of which is that the colonizers are acting by divine providence and hence categorically in the right. It is unsurprising that this is also put forth in various ways in the case of the Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestine; which is how we return to the religious aspects.As a born-again Christian; Craig Nielsen describes how his own thoughts on the situation in Israel/Palestine have taken shape and uses as his foil the position of Christian Zionism. For this review; my working definition of a Christian Zionist is a Christian who takes a pro-Israeli colonization position in principle; justified by religious reasons (for example biblical arguments).Craig Nielsen does a wonderful job both setting out the political issues for the general reader as well as arguing against Christian Zionism from within the Christian Zionist's own framework. There is more than enough material for anyone to get something out of this book; whether they consider themselves Christian or not. The extensive historical account given of the roots of the conflict would serve as a useful introduction while anyone who is more knowledgeable about the issue will find detailed and thought provoking work on the questions of religious identity and Israel/Palestine.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Refreshing !!By L. GrassmeyerCraig Michael Nielsen's book is hands down one of the best books ever written on the background and current status of Zionism and Christian Zionism; and how they have become so accepted in the Western church today. Most Christians are taught from the pulpit to believe that Zionism is somehow holy sanctioned by God while in the meantime descecrating or destroying 'all things' Palestinian-including our Palestinian brothers and sisters in the Lord. It is time for all of us who claim to be Christ followers to listen and learn another side to the conflict- one that has rarely been exposed to the millions of well-meaning Christians and evangelicals specifically. Let us truly ask the hard questions beneath our well fed theology/eschatology; and U.S. foreign policy. "WWJD-What would Jesus Do" is not just for kids; it's for us; all of us. Please read the book and give it to your church leaders; and pray that hearts would be stirred. It is everyone's responsibility to seek the truth for themselves.3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. This book is a must readBy CathyIn his book "Israel Palestine - a Christian response to the conflict" Craig Nielsen comprehensively dismantles the misguided theological rationale that has caused the evangelical church to cast a blind eye to the otherwise obvious injustice toward the Palestinian people. This book is a must read for anyone who has even the slightest misgivings about the machinations of the Zionist movement and the ongoing conflict in Palestine.Rev. David KowalickMinister; Fish Gate Uniting Church; South Australia
