Fantasy And Belief: Alternative Religions, Popular Narratives, And Digital Cultures (approaches To New Religions)

Recent years have seen an increase in alternative forms of religiosity and spirituality. In particular, a variety of alternative metaphysics and spiritualities are developing that explicitly integrate fiction, most often fantasy and science fiction, within their various paradigms. Such worldviews are notable in that they are not limited to the traditional realms of religious and spiritual engagement, but rather they extend comfortably into the worlds of contemporary popular and digital cultures. Fantasy and Belief explores the context and implications of these types of beliefs through the example of the Otherkin community, a loosely affiliated group of individuals who believe themselves to be in some way non-human. Tracking a path through fiction and mythology, fan cultures and world creation, occulture and the Internet, Fantasy and Belief investigates some of the ways in which the popular and the sacred can imbricate to form personally meaningful spiritualities and metaphysics. "Religion and spirituality are being transformed in our late modern and secularising times. New forms of belief proliferate, often notable for not being limited to traditional systems of reference or expression. Increasingly, these new religions present worldviews which draw directly upon popular culture - or occulture - in fiction, film, art and the internet. Fantasy and Belief explores the context and implications of these types of beliefs through the example of the Otherkin community. The Otherkin are a loosely-affiliated group who believe themselves to be in some way more than just human, their non-humanity often rooted in the characters and narratives of popular fantasy and science fiction. Challenging much current sociological thinking about spirituality and consumption, Fantasy and Belief reveals how popular occulture operates to recycle, develop, and disseminate metaphysical ideas, and how the popular and the sacred are combining in new ways in today's world." -- Publisher's description. Religion and spirituality are being transformed in our late modern and secularizing times. New forms of belief proliferate, often notable for not being limited to traditional systems of reference or expression. Increasingly, these new religions present worldviews that draw directly upon popular culture - or occulture - in fiction, film, art and the internet. Fantasy and Belief explores the context and implications of these types of beliefs through the example of the Otherkin community. The Otherkin are a loosely affiliated group who believe themselves to be in some way more than just human, their non-humanity often rooted in the characters and narratives of popular fantasy and science fiction. Challenging much current sociological thinking about spirituality and consumption, Fantasy and Belief reveals how popular occulture operates to recycle, develop and disseminate metaphysical ideas, and how the popular and the sacred are combining in new ways in today's world. Book jacket