Ecstasy research in the 20th century – an introduction

Scholars have long studied distinctive religious and cultural phenomena such as yogis, mystics, shamans, sorcerers, and group-hysterical events, but no major collection of research contributions on all these topics exists. Before discussing existing research, the text introduces key technical terms and concepts: ecstasy, trance, mysticism, possession, and altered states of consciousness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Scholars have always been interested in distinctive phenomena in culture and religion. Thus the accounts and achievements of yogis and mystics received attention at an early stage. There is a similar tendency with shamans, different kinds of sorcerers and with the "group-hysterical" phenomena that have appeared from time to time. There is, on the other hand, no major collection of research contributions on all the phenomena belonging to this field. Before proceeding to discuss some of the research produced over this vast area, some of the technical terms and concepts current in this field of study need to be introduced: ecstasy, trance, mysticism, possession, and altered states of consciousness.