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A comprehensive exploration of the Jewish adherents of the Theosophical Society and their impact on modern Jewish culture and the development of modern forms of Kabbalah. The Secret Doctrine of the Jews offers the first comprehensive study of Jewish followers of the Theosophical Society, the highly influential global esoteric movement that was established in New York in 1875. The book presents a detailed examination of the major Jewish followers of the Theosophical Society and the formation of Jewish lodges and associations within its framework. It discusses the endeavors of Jewish theosophist to reconcile their Jewish identity with their theosophical convictions and to create new, theosophi...
When James R. Lewis, one of the editors of the current collection, first moved to Norway in late 2009, he was unprepared to discover that so many researchers in Nordic countries were producing innovative scholarship on new religions and on the new age subculture. In fact, over the past dozen years or so, an increasingly disproportionate percentage of new religions scholars have arisen in Nordic countries and teach at universities in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Baltic countries. Nordic New Religions, co-edited with Inga B. Tøllefsen, surveys this rich field of study in this area of the world, focusing on the scholarship being produced by scholars in this region of northern Europe.
Examines the impact of the author's controversial 1993 book Forbidden Archaeology on the scientific community.
Evolution, Cognition, and the History of Religion: A New Synthesis comprises 41 chapters that push for a new way of conducting the study of religion, thereby, transforming the discipline into a genuine science of religion. The recent resurgence of evolutionary approaches on culture and the increasing acknowledgement in the natural and social sciences of culture’s and religion’s evolutionary importance calls for a novel epistemological and theoretical framework for studying these two areas. The chapters explore how a new scholarly synthesis, founded on the triadic space constituted by evolution, cognition, cultural and ecological environment, may develop. Different perspectives and themes relating to this overarching topic are taken up with a main focus on either evolution, cognition, and/or the history of religion.
The study of New Religious Movements (NRMs) is one of the fastest-growing areas of religious studies, and since the release of the first edition of The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements in 2003, the field has continued to expand and break new ground. In this all-new volume, James R. Lewis and Inga B. Tøllefsen bring together established and rising scholars to address an expanded range of topics, covering traditional religious studies topics such as "scripture," "charisma," and "ritual," while also applying new theoretical approaches to NRM topics. Other chapters cover understudied topics in the field, such as the developmental patterns of NRMs and subcultural considerations in the ...
Most great religious traditions are global in scope, but they are often used to promote nationalist and isolationist ideas. Why do politicians in Poland and Lithuania stress the strong bond between the Catholic Church and the national identities? And how are ethno-religious conflicts expressed in Norway? In this book, you will find new data and new insights, providing explanations for these and other questions. Fascinating case studies from Europe and China are the basis for analyses on how global interconnectedness sparks both unity and conflict within religious spheres, demonstrating the interplay of local and global influences as well as the dynamics of glocalization. Contributors are: Mi...
Collection of papers on ritualistics in religion, including the study of shamans in various cultures, the Norse myths and Scandinavian rituals.
Conventional approaches to Hinduism typically stress its classical religious tradition with an emphasis on the Brahmin texts and practices. Frequently neglected are the practices of lower caste Indians, the role of women in the culture, the religious life of village folk, devotion to the deity Rama, and the Sant tradition of North India. The Many Colors of Hinduism is the first introductory text to provide a balanced view of this rich religious tradition, acknowledging the full range of its many competing and even contradictory aspects. Utilizing a thematic-historical approach, Carl Olson draws on a wide array of textual evidence, the fieldwork of anthropologists in close contact with inside...
A unique and in-depth introduction to religion in the modern world, Religion and Globalization includes coverage of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, East Asian religions, and new religious movements. It addresses such questions as: How do these various religions change as they are brought into contact with each other by the forces of globalization? and How are ancient traditions modified to accommodate the realities of the 21st century? Focusing on the diverse ways that humans have been religious in the past and are religious today, the book examines the changes that began with the Scientific Revolution and how those changes have shaped these religions as they are practiced today. Ideal for courses on religion and globalization or religion and politics, Religion and Globalization includes sixteen custom maps, key terms at the end of each chapter, a glossary, and timelines of important events each religious tradition.