scholarly journals (Re)Introducing “Secular Religion”: On the Study of Entangled Quests for Meaning in Modern Western Cultures

Numen ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 256-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Vliegenthart
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
North America ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
New Religious Movements ◽  
Logical Connection ◽  
The Social ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
Western Esotericism ◽  
Secular Religion ◽  
Metaphysical Religion

Abstract The disenchantment of reality has bankrupted conventional sources of meaning for many people in modern Western cultures. This has led a growing number of figures and groups to search for alternative sources of meaning. Typical of their quests for meaning is the entanglement of secular and religious discourses. Since the twentieth century, scholars have studied the social configurations of these figures and groups as “cults” or “new religious movements” and their ideologies as “New Age” or “spirituality,” which are seen as parts of a longer tradition of “Western esotericism” (Europe) or “metaphysical religion” (North America). Several leading scholars have also interpreted them as forms of “secular religion,” but this has yet to gain academic traction. This article argues that the former concepts are lacking or losing a logical connection with the socio-historical phenomena to which they pertain and reintroduces the latter concept as a more appropriate one.

scholarly journals The Closed Religious Community: the Strategy of Forming аnd the Principles of Functioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-100
Author(s):  
Svetlana V. Riazanova
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
World View ◽  
Popular Religion ◽  
Religious Community ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
New Religious Movements ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Total Community

The point of the author’s research interest is mechanisms for the formation of a private religious community on the example of the Intersession brotherhood. A group of believers was emerged as part of the revival of the Orthodox life of the Kama region, but transformed into specific organization with features of popular religion, new religious movements and so-called “historical sects.” Author reconstructs the history of the community involving elements of the biographical method. The study is based on interviews and correspondence with former members of the community, close people of the residents of the commune, as well as analysis of the materials of the closed group on the social network, some audio of the groups’ seminars, photocopies of the working notebooks of the group and a series of photographs made by the believers. The investigation is based on the theoretical constructions of E. Goffman and the concept of total community. Intersession brotherhood appears as a community with the features of totality – territorial and communication closure of the residents, their employment in internal jobs, perception of the group as a family. Lack of privacy is combined with the presence of “mother-child” connection to the leader. The practice of naming for adults, the creation of new marriages, participation in gender-oriented councils create a special micro-environment with the unification of the world view. The system of privileges for advanced residents is supplemented by a developed system of fines. It makes possible to speak about special tools that lead to a change of values, a narrowing of the set of social roles and a reduction of critical thinking.

scholarly journals Boarding and lodging practices in early twentieth-century Scotland

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
JEFF MEEK
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
North America ◽  
Working Class ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Economic Importance ◽  
The Social ◽  
Economic Position ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTThe social and economic position of lodgers in Europe and North America has attracted considerable scholarship, yet the financial and interpersonal relationships between lodgers and boarders and their hosts in working-class homes is somewhat underdeveloped. This article examines patterns of lodging and boarding in working-class homes in Scotland between 1861 and 1911, focusing upon multiple layers of connection between paying guests and householders. This article demonstrates that connections had national and ethnic roots, and that taking in lodgers and boarders was of prime cultural and economic importance for many. The ability to offer space played a crucial role in the social and economic status of single, separated and widowed women, and this article offers an insight into the sometimes troubled relationships between landladies and their tenants.

scholarly journals CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE MYTHMAKING OF H.P. LOVECRAFT

2019 ◽  
pp. 137-142
Author(s):  
Denis D. Pyzikov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Popular Culture ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
New England ◽  
Cultural Landscape ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
New Religious Movements ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
Horror Genre ◽  
Western Esotericism

H.P. Lovecraft created an original mythology that has not only become science fiction and fantasy classics, but also determined horror genre development in general. In his literary works, Lovecraft used images derived from both ancient religious traditions and contemporary western esotericism, filling his imaginary worlds with mysterious cosmic creatures. The writer’s cultural and historic environment played a very important role as the cultural landscape of New England and theosophical concepts widespread at that time had a great impact on the author’s work and writing. The original “mythology” invented by Lovecraft later played a key role in development of some new religious movements. Besides, Lovecraft’s mythology and images are reflected in the modern popular culture. The paper analyzes Lovecraft’s works and religious motives that are used or reflected in them, cultural factors that influenced the writer and Lovecraft’s heritage place in occult concepts, practices and subcultures of today.

scholarly journals 'Maggid of Montreal': Rabbi Hirsch Cohen on the dilemmas of the Canadian rabbi

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Lapidus
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
North America ◽  
New World ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Early Twentieth Century ◽  
The Social ◽  
European Values

Tzvi Hirsch Cohen was one of those pioneering eastern European clergy who immigrated to North America in the early twentieth century. So many others stayed put. His goal was to provide a foundation for traditional Judaism in the New World, which he sought to fulfill while serving for decades as Montreal’s first Chief Rabbi. In his speeches, sermons, and writings, Cohen considered how to merge his traditionalist eastern European values and customs with the social mores of democratic and egalitarian Canada. He found particularly vexing the multiple roles rabbis in the New World were called upon to play. In Europe, rabbis were specialized. Some were preachers, others halakhic experts. Cohen viewed the two as being in a state of perennial tension, and he had great difficulty seeing how one rabbi could function as both. Using himself as an example, Cohen’s description of his internal struggles offers a glimpse into the challenges rabbis in the immigrant Orthodox community in early twentieth century Canada had to face.

The Challenge of the Pentecostals in Asia Part Two: The Responses of the Roman Catholic Church

Exchange ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-143
Author(s):  
John Mansford Prior
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
New Religious Movements ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Previous Issue ◽  
The Social ◽  
Basic Ecclesial Communities

AbstractIntroduction by the Managing Editor: John Mansford Prior SVD wrote an essay for the Asian Convention of the Pontifical Council for Culture planned for Jogyakarta, Indonesia, in June 12-17, 2006. The essay starts with a survey of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements in five Asian countries. Subsequently Prior reviews a growing awareness of 'sects and new religious movements' in church documents. Then he looks at how social science understands the 'rise of the sects' before he takes up the pastoral challenge to link the dynamism of Pentecostal/charismatic movements with the social conscience of basic ecclesial communities. The editing board of Exchange was impressed by the content of the essay and considered it to be of great importance to the readership of the journal. However, the essay was too long to be published in one issue. Therefore it is decided to divide it into parts. The first part gives the overview of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in Asia and the second part deals with the reaction of the Asian mainline churches, in particular the Roman Catholic Church. Part one was published in the previous issue (pp. xx-xx).

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