Contemporary Esotericism [Paperback]

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.1. Contemporary Esotericism: Introduction, Egil Asprem, University of Amsterdam, & Kennet Granholm, Stockholm University 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, Pennsylvania State University 4. Secret Lineages and De Facto Satanists: Anton LaVey's Use of Esoteric Tradition, Per Faxneld. Stockholm University 5. Perennialism and Iconoclasm: Chaos Magick and the Legitimacy of Innovation, Colin Duggan, University College Cork PART II: POPULAR CULTURE AND NEW MEDIA 6. Occulture is Ordinary, Christopher Partridge, Lancaster University 7. From Book to Bit: Enacting Satanism Online, Jesper Aagaard Petersen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim 8. Accessing the Astral with a Monitor and Mouse: Esoteric Religion and the Astral located in Three-Dimensional Virtual Realms, John L. Crow, Florida State University 9. l#n