Contemporary esotericism / edited by Egil Asprem & Kennet Granholm.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Asprem, Egil.

Granholm, Kennet, 1977-

Series:

Gnostica (Louvain, Belgium)

Gnostica : texts and interpretations

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Occultism.

Religions.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 470 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st

Place of Publication:

Sheffield ; Bristol, CT : Equinox Pub., 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Cover; Half Title; Series Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; Contributors; 1 Introduction; Part I: Tradition; 2 Constructing Esotericisms: Sociological, Historical and Critical Approaches to the Invention of Tradition; 3 Inventing Africa: Esotericism and the Creation of an Afrocentric Tradition in America; 4 Secret Lineages and de Facto Satanists: Anton LaVey's Use of Esoteric Tradition; 5 Perennialism and Iconoclasm: Chaos Magick and the Legitimacy of Innovation; Part II: Popular Culture and New Media; 6 Occulture is Ordinary; 7 From Book to Bit: Enacting Satanism Online

8 Accessing the Astral with a Monitor and Mouse: Esoteric Religion and the Astral Located in Three-Dimensional Virtual Realms 9 The Secrets of Scientology: Concealment, Information Control and Esoteric Knowledge in the World's Most Controversial New Religion; 10 Hidden Knowledge, Hidden Powers: Esotericism and Conspiracy Culture; Part III: Esoteric Transfers; 11 Discursive Transfers and Reconfigurations: Tracing the Religious and the Esoteric in Secular Culture; 12 Radical Politics and Political Esotericism: The Adaptation of Esoteric Discourse within the Radical Right

13 New Age Spirituality and Islamic Jihad: Paulo Coelho's Manual of the Warrior of Light and Shamil Basayev's Manual of the Mujahid 14 Deep Ecology and the Study of Western Esotericism; Part IV: Leaving the Margins; 15 The Secular, the Post-Secular and the Esoteric in the Public Sphere; 16 Psychic Enchantments of the Educated Classes: The Paranormal and the Ambiguities of Disenchantment; 17 The New Kids: Indigo Children and New Age Discourse; 18 A Small-Town Health Centre in Sweden: Perspectives on the Western Esotericism Debate; 19 Entheogenic Esotericism

20 A Deliciously Troubling Duo: Gender and Esotericism Bibliography, Discography and Filmography; Index

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 426-462) and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

1-317-54356-4

1-138-85611-8

1-315-72865-6

1-317-54357-2

1-84465-774-4

9781315728650

OCLC:

890531485