Friday, May 22, 2020

What Does Eastern Religions Mean For Americans - 1397 Words

â€Å"What does Eastern Religions mean to Americans?† Starting in the 19th century, Buddhism began to make its way to America through the immigration of the Chinese whom brought their religious traditions with them. Buddhism continued to gain popularity in America when Buddhist texts, as well as Buddhist teachers, were brought here to share and spread their religion. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s/early 1960’s that we see the interest in Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism, blossom throughout the country. Through the memoir â€Å"Sacred Hoops† by Phil Jackson, an NBA player and coach, we are able to see how Zen Buddhism not only altered his life, as well as his players, but how the religion also adapts to American culture. From reading both â€Å"Sacred Hoops† and learning about Buddhism throughout this semester, I would argue that Eastern religions, specifically Zen Buddhism, is not only a way for Americans to escape the reality of American culture but also provides a complete alternative to Christianity and other similar religions that are predominate in America. Phil Jackson was born into a family of strict Pentecostal Christians. Both his mother and father were practicing ministers of the â€Å"Assemblies of God† so life as a child was stricter than most. Things like Television and movies weren’t allowed in his household, so sports, including basketball, was the one way that Phil and his brothers would get to participate in â€Å"normal† childhood activities. Even though Phil grew up in aShow MoreRelatedA Democracy Of The Middle East1304 Words   |  6 PagesThe Arab world is moving towards a democracy that accurately reflects the values of Islam. 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