- Contemporary Esotericism
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- Series: Gnostica
- Editor(s):
Egil Asprem and Kennet Granholm
- ISBN: 1908049324
- ISBN-13: 9781908049322
- Publication Date: 31 Dec 2012
- Pages: 448 (234 x 156 mm)
- Format: Hardback
- Published Price: £75.00
- Discount Price: £60.00
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DESCRIPTION:
The study of contemporary esoteric discourse has hitherto been a largely neglected part of the new academic field of Western esotericism. Contemporary Esotericism provides a broad overview and assessment of the complex world of Western esoteric thought today. Combining historiographical analysis with theories and methodologies from the social sciences, the volume explores new problems and offers new possibilities for the study of esoterica. Contemporary Esotericism studies the period since the 1950s but focuses on the last two decades. The wide range of essays are divided into four thematic sections: the intricacies of esoteric appeals to tradition; the role of popular culture, modern communication technologies, and new media in contemporary esotericism; the impact and influence of esotericism on both religious and secular arenas; and the recent ‘de-marginalization’ of the esoteric in both scholarship and society.
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REVIEWS:
“This valuable collection will introduce readers to ongoing scholarship on previously understudied modes of esotericism, and fills a conspicuous gap in the literature.” – Olav Hammer, University of Southern Denmark
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AUTHOR BIO:
Egil Asprem is Research Fellow at the Center for History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam and author of Arguing with Angels: Enochian Magic and Modern Occulture. Kennet Granholm is Docent and Assistant Professor in History of Religions at Stockholm University and author of Embracing the Dark: The Magic of Dragon Rouge - Its Practice in Dark Magic and Meaning Making.
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CONTENTS:
1. Introduction, Egil Asprem & Kennet Granholm
Part I: Tradition
2. Constructing Esotericisms: Sociological, Historical, and Critical Approaches to the Invention of Tradition, Egil Asprem & Kennet Granholm
3. Inventing Africa: Esotericism and the Creation of an Afrocentric Tradition in America, Fredrik Gregorius
4. Secret Lineages and De Facto Satanists: Anton LaVey’s Use of Esoteric Tradition, Per Faxneld
5. Perennialism and Iconoclasm: Chaos Magick and the Legitimacy of Innovation, Colin Duggan
Part II: Popular Culture and New Media
6. Occulture is Ordinary, Christopher Partridge
7. From Book to Bit: Enacting Satanism Online, Jesper Aagaard Petersen
8. Accessing the Astral with a Monitor and Mouse: Esoteric Religion and the Astral located in Three-Dimensional Virtual Realms, John L. Crow
9. The Secrets of Scientology: Concealment, Information Control, and Esoteric Knowledge in the World's Most Controversial New Religion, Hugh B. Urban
10. Hidden Knowledge, Hidden Powers: Esotericism and Conspiracy Culture, Asbjørn Dyrendal
Part III: Esoteric Transfers
11. Discursive Transfers and Reconfigurations: Tracing the Religious and the Esoteric in Secular Culture, Kocku von Stuckrad
12. Radical Politics and Political Esotericism: The Adaptation of Esoteric Discourse within the Radical Right, Jacob Christiansen Senholt
13. New Age Spirituality and Islamic Jihad: Paulo Coelho’s Manual of the Warrior of Light and Shamil Basayev’s Manual of the Mujahid, Eduard ten Houten
14. Deep Ecology and the Study of Western Esotericism, Joseph Christian Greer
Part IV: Leaving the Margins
15. The Secular, the Post-Secular, and the Esoteric in the Public Sphere, Kennet Granholm
16. Psychic Enchantments of the Educated Classes: The Paranormal and the Ambiguities of Disenchantment, Egil Asprem
17. The New Kids: Indigo Children and New Age Discourse, Daniel Kline
18. A Small Town Health Centre in Sweden: Perspectives on the Western Esotericism Debate, Liselotte Frisk
19. Entheogenic Esotericism, Wouter J. Hanegraaff
20. A Deliciously Troubling Duo: Gender and Esotericism, Jay Johnston
Bibliography, Discography and Filmography
Index
