New Approaches to the Study of Esotericism (Supplements to Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, #17)

The academic study of esotericism is currently undergoing a phase of expan- sion and diversification. This is true whether we look at the topics, geographi- cal regions, and subject languages of new research projects in the field, at the disciplines involved in its study, or the demographic composition of its schol- ars. The past decade has seen monographs, anthologies, and journal special issues on topics such as African-American esotericism (Finley, Guillory and Page, eds., 2014), esotericism in South America (Bubello, 2010), esotericism in South Asia (Djurdjevic, 2014), esotericism in Scandinavia (Bogdan and Ham- mer, eds., 2016), global esotericism (Bogdan and Djurdjevic, 2014), contempo- rary esotericism (Asprem and Granholm, eds., 2013), esotericism in antiquity (Burns, ed., 2015), Islamic esotericism (Saif, 2019), cognitive approaches to es- otericism (Asprem and Davidsen, 2017), ethnographic approaches to esoteri- cism (Crockford and Asprem, 2018), feminist and queer analyses of esotericism (Hedenborg White, 2019), and so on. We see new forays into literary studies, art history, colonial and global history, history and sociology of science, the study of popular culture, and many other domains. The study of esotericism always had interdisciplinary aspirations, but recent years have accelerated this trend. With it comes an increased need for generalists in the field to read broadly across an expanding number of disciplines.The academic study of esotericism is currently undergoing a phase of expan- sion and diversification. This is true whether we look at the topics, geographi- cal regions, and subject languages of new research projects in the field, at the disciplines involved in its study, or the demographic composition of its schol- ars. The past decade has seen monographs, anthologies, and journal special issues on topics such as African-American esotericism (Finley, Guillory and Page, eds., 2014), esotericism in South America (Bubello, 2010), esotericism in South Asia (Djurdjevic, 2014), esotericism in Scandinavia (Bogdan and Ham- mer, eds., 2016), global esotericism (Bogdan and Djurdjevic, 2014), contempo- rary esotericism (Asprem and Granholm, eds., 2013), esotericism in antiquity (Burns, ed., 2015), Islamic esotericism (Saif, 2019), cognitive approaches to es- otericism (Asprem and Davidsen, 2017), ethnographic approaches to esoteri- cism (Crockford and Asprem, 2018), feminist and queer analyses of esotericism (Hedenborg White, 2019), and so on. We see new forays into literary studies, art history, colonial and global history, history and sociology of science, the study of popular culture, and many other domains. The study of esotericism always had interdisciplinary aspirations, but recent years have accelerated this trend. With it comes an increased need for generalists in the field to read broadly across an expanding number of disciplines. Esotericisms 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 Dont Take Any Wooden Nickels: Western Esotericism, Yoga, and the Discourse of Authenticity Keith Cant 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 Contents Notes on Contributors Esotericism's Expanding Horizon: Why This Book Came to Be Receptions of Revelations: A Future for the Study of Esotericism and Antiquity Towards the Study of Esotericism without the ``Western'': Esotericism from the Perspective of a Global Religious History ``That I Did Love the Moor to Live with Him'': Islam in/and the Study of ``Western Esotericism'' The Occult among the Aborigines of South America? Some Remarks on Race, Coloniality, and the West in the Study of Esotericism ``Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels'': Western Esotericism, Yoga, and the Discourse of Authenticity Rejected Knowledge Reconsidered: Some Methodological Notes on Esotericism and Marginality Race and (the Study of) Esotericism ``What Can the Whole World Be Hiding?'': Exploring Africana Esotericisms in the American Soul-Blues Continuum Double Toil and Gender Trouble? Performativity and Femininity in the Cauldron of Esotericism Research What Do Jade Eggs Tell Us about the Category ``Esotericism''? Spirituality, Neoliberalism, Secrecy, and Commodities Interpretation Reconsidered: The Definitional Progression in the Study of Esotericism as a Case in Point for the Varifocal Theory of Interpretation Afterword: Outlines of a New Roadmap Index 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.00The 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.00Also available in Open Access "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"-- Provided by publisher