The Vestiges of Japanese Spirituality: Challenging the Standard Model of Religious History

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Dr. Brian J. McVeigh (University at Albany, SUNY, USA)

The Vestiges of Japanese Spirituality

Challenging the Standard Model of Religious History

Dr. Brian J. McVeigh (University at Albany, SUNY, USA)

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English

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
02 October 2025

History of religion; Oriental religions; Spirituality & religious experience

By positioning Japan within a global perspective, this work challenges the “black-box” approach to psyche dominating studies in the history of religion.

Brian J. McVeigh employs a cultural psychological analysis by first highlighting the conceptual obstacles hindering the psychology of religion, such as neglecting sociohistorical forces that shape mental processes. Next, by exploring shamanism, divination, and the mountain asceticism or Shugendo, he contextualizes the historical background of Japanese religion. He argues that current practices of Japan’s new religions are relics of an earlier mentality that has been creatively renovated and re-adapted for the present-day. This is demonstrated by investigating spirit possession, a vestige of an obsolete neurocultural arrangement. Unlike other works, this book treats possession as a legitimate phenomenon in and of itself, requiring explanatory analysis rather than dismissing it as a mere epiphenomenon. This genuinely interdisciplinary work transcends mainstream academic fields and will appeal to readers interested in Japanese and Asian religions and the psychology of religion.

By: Dr. Brian J. McVeigh (University at Albany SUNY USA)
Imprint: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Country of Publication: United States [Currently unable to ship to USA: see Shipping Info]
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781666977936
ISBN 10: 1666977934
Pages: 176
Publication Date: 02 October 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Acknowledgments Abbreviations and Acronyms Introduction: The Promise of a Jaynesian Paradigm Chapter 1: Challenging the Standard Model of Religion in Japan and Beyond Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework and Key Concepts Chapter 3: Historical Background to the Emergence of Japanese Spirituality Chapter 4: The Building Blocks of Japanese Spirituality Chapter 5: Another Japanese Religion: Shugendo Chapter 6: Spirit Possession as a Vestige of an Earlier Mentality Conclusion: Final Thoughts on a Jaynesian Perspective Appendix A: Outline of Religious History of Japan Appendix B: Accoutrements of Shugenja Glossary References Index About the Author

Brian J. McVeigh is in private practice as a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and is Senior Researcher and Advisor at the Julian Jaynes Society.

Reviews for The Vestiges of Japanese Spirituality: Challenging the Standard Model of Religious History

In most modern-day religions and spiritualities a self-authorizing individual is obvious. Yet the issue behind the subtitle of this book is that the origin of this internalized decision-maker has been studiously ignored. Through the lens of Julian Jaynes’s theory of consciousness with a focus on the emergence of Japanese Spirituality McVeigh corrects this oversight. It is a marvelous journey of humankind’s quest for authorization that all readers will find intriguing and richly rewarding. * William Rowe *