Introduction: Things We Do Not Talk About
Wouter Hanegraaff, Jeffrey J. Kripal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) May 2, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19979489 via OpenAlex
Summary
Western esotericism has often been marginalized in the study of religion and sexuality, yet its traditions offer rich, alternative perspectives on eros and sexual experience. This introductory essay argues that esoteric currents—from Hermeticism and alchemy to modern occultism—have consistently explored the intersections of spiritual and erotic life, challenging conventional boundaries between the sacred and the profane. The authors contend that examining these hidden discourses reveals how sexuality has functioned as a site of spiritual agency, knowledge, and transformation across history. By bringing esoteric materials into dialogue with contemporary religious studies and critical theory, the essay sets the stage for rethinking the role of erotic experience in Western religious and philosophical traditions.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Human sexuality Reading process Postcolonialism international relations Agency philosophy Sociology |
| Key finding | Western esotericism provides alternative, historically marginalized perspectives on the spiritual dimensions of eros and sexuality that challenge conventional religious and philosophical boundaries. |
Abstract
in: Wouter J. Hanegraaff & Jeffrey J. Kripal (eds.), Hidden Intercourse: Eros and Sexuality in the History of Western Esotericism, Brill: Leiden / Boston 2008 [U.S. Paperback edition: Fordham University Press: New York 2011, ix-xxii.