New Approaches to the Study of Esotericism

Abstract

"This volume offers new approaches to some of the biggest persistent challenges in the study of esotericism and beyond. Commonly understood as a particularly "Western" undertaking consisting of religious, philosophical, and ritual traditions that go back to Mediterranean antiquity, this book argues for a global approach that significantly expands the scope of esotericism and highlights its relevance for broader theoretical and methodological debates in the humanities and social sciences. The contributors offer critical interventions on aspects related to colonialism, race, gender and sexuality, economy, and marginality. Equipped with a substantial introduction and conclusion, the book offers textbook-style discussions of the state of research and makes concrete proposals for how esotericism can be rethought through broader engagement with neighboring fields"-- Content -- List of Schematics -- Notes on Contributors -- Esotericism's Expanding Horizon: Why This Book Came to Be Egil Asprem and Julian Strube -- Receptions of Revelations: A Future for the Study of Esotericism and Antiquity Dylan Burns -- Towards the Study of Esotericism without the "Western": Esotericism from the Perspective of a Global Religious History Julian Strube -- "That I Did Love the Moor to Live with Him": Islam in/and the Study of "Western Esotericism" Liana Saif -- The Occult among the Aborigines of South America? Some Remarks on Race, Coloniality, and the West in the Study of Esotericism Mariano Villalba -- "Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels": Western Esotericism, Yoga, and the Discourse of Authenticity Keith Cantú -- Rejected Knowledge Reconsidered: Some Methodological Notes on Esotericism and Marginality Egil Asprem -- Race and (the Study of) Esotericism Justine Bakker -- "What Can the Whole World Be Hiding?" Exploring Africana Esotericisms in the American Soul-Blues Continuum Hugh R. Page, Jr. and Stephen C. Finley -- Double Toil and Gender Trouble? Performativity and Femininity in the Cauldron of Esotericism Research Manon Hedenborg White -- What do Jade Eggs Tell Us about the Category "Esotericism"? Spirituality, Neoliberalism, Secrecy, and Commodities Susannah Crockford -- Interpretation Reconsidered: The Definitional Progression in the Study of Esotericism as a Case in Point for the Varifocal Theory of Interpretation Dimitry Okropiridze -- Afterword: Outlines of a New Roadmap Egil Asprem and Julian Strube -- Index.