Esotericism and Modernity: Theoretical Reflections

English

The Modernity of Occultism: Reflections on Some Crucial Aspects

In this article the author analyzes a number of popular concepts about the relationship between occultism and various phenomena of social life in the end of the 19th and in the early 20th century. The author shows that the idea of a link between occultism and fascism, which was popular in the middle of the 20th century, is largely false. As an alternative, the author suggests a perspective in which occult societies are described as a virtual space for social and cultural
experimentation and innovation. 

Toward the Sociology of Esoteric Culture

The point of departure of this paper is an examination of the sociological literature on the recent occult revival in modern societies. This phenomenon, which clashes with the image of secularization, is particularly notable among the youth of the counterculture. To further sociological analysis, a conceptualization of esoteric culture is proposed. It is further argued that esoteric culture has played a significant role in Western cultural change, in such areas as artistic