America is an angry nation.  Much of the practice of Buddhism seeks to foster tranquility. Since mid 20th century, Buddhism has come bigly to our shores.  Why?  What is American Buddhism? What might it become? Might it soothe our angry feelings?  How does it or will it play in our  religiously already highly plural culture?  We will look in depth at two American Theravada Buddhist demographics…..one comprising of largely immigrants from Thailand, Theravada Buddhist by birth…… and one composed of mainly American born converts……Each, at once, both American and Buddhist

INSTRUCTOR Steve Piker is an anthropologist by career with two separate years of field work in Thailand. Thai Buddhism was a main focus of his research.  Steve has also done research on religious conversion in the U.S. He has taught 44 years at Swarthmore College immersed in the Quaker spirit of the school (which spirit also fosters tranquility) He has offered thirty five courses at four of  Maine’s senior colleges. 

Suggested reading:                                                                      Wendy Cadge.  HEARTWOOD.  THE FIRST GENERATION OF THERAVADA BUDDHISM IN AMERICA.

Your Instructor:

Steve Piker is an anthropologist by career. He spent two separate years of field work in Thailand with Thai Buddhism a main focus of the research.  Steve has also done research on religious conversion in the U.S. He has taught 44 years at Swarthmore College immersed in the Quaker spirit of the school(which spirit also fosters tranquility); and has offered thirty five or so courses at four of  Maine’s senior colleges