Post-secular esotericism? Some reflections on the transformation of esotericism

Summary

The academic study of Western esotericism has become established as a discipline, yet most research focuses on historical forms, neglecting contemporary expressions. The dominant definition of Western esotericism, developed by Antoine Faivre, may not fit modern manifestations. Late modern societal transformations—described by sociologists as late modernity, liquid modernity, or post-modernity—also affect esoteric spiritualities. The article discusses these late modern changes and their relation to Western esotericism, arguing for updated conceptual and methodological tools to study current esoteric phenomena.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In the last fifteen years the study of Western esotericism has become an academic discipline in its own right. The vast majority of research conducted within the field is focused on older, historical developments, with recent expressions of esotericism receiving far less attention. This has a bearing on the conceptual and methodological tools used in the field as well. The dominant definition of Western esotericism developed by Antoine Faivre might not be entirely suitable when looking at its contemporary expressions. In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries Western societies have undergone major processes of transform­ation, resulting in what many sociologists variously term late modern­ity, liquid modernity, post-modernity, high modernity (and so forth). Naturally, these transformations affect esoteric spiritualities as well. In this article the author discusses late modern societal transformation and relates this to Western esotericism.