New Age Religion and Western Culture: Esotericism in the Mirror of Secular Thought (Suny Series, Western Esoteric Traditions) (SUNY series in Western Esoteric Traditions)

Product Description

Presents the first systematic analysis of the structure and beliefs of the New Age movement, and the historical emergence of “New Age” as a secularized version of Western esoteric traditions.

Review

“There will be no book like this for some time to come. It should be on the reading list of any student of religion and brings into the foreground a needed agenda for those in the humanities and social sciences, and will be valued by all those who appreciate fine, clear writing. I wish I had written it myself.” ― Antoine Faivre, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Sorbonne

“Finally, someone has mastered the vast literature of, and reality which is the New Age movement, and produced a comprehensive and authoritative survey of its major themes and most important leaders. Hanegraaff’s effort should immediately become the foundation upon which future research of the movement will be constructed.” ― J. Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion, Santa Barbara

“This is the best critical study of New Age thinking hitherto available. An outstanding achievement.” ― Garry W. Trompf, School of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney

About the Author

Wouter J. Hanegraaff is a Research Fellow at the Department for the Study of Religions at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. He is coeditor of Gnosis and Hermeticism: From Antiquity to Modern Times, also published by SUNY Press.