Olaf Hammer: Claiming Knowledge. Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age

The Swedish historian of religions Olav Hammer's doctoral dissertation on the epistemological strategies of the current European esoteric traditions is a remarkable contribution to the understanding of the historical continuum ranging from traditional Theosophy to New Age religion. Hammer's book bri...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marburg Journal of Religion
Main Author: Rothstein, Mikael
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Philipps-Universität Marburg 2002
Online Access:Online Access
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The Swedish historian of religions Olav Hammer's doctoral dissertation on the epistemological strategies of the current European esoteric traditions is a remarkable contribution to the understanding of the historical continuum ranging from traditional Theosophy to New Age religion. Hammer's book brings together a number of different and relevant themes by discussing highly differentiated empirical material in the shape of religious texts. The main question, which the book seeks to explain, is how various religious phenomena are adapted to the conditions of the modern world? In order to answer the question, Hammer examines three discursive themes which are fundamental to the esotericism of Theosophy and subsequently New Age religion. These themes are: "Tradition", "Scientism", and "Experience".
DOI:10.17192/mjr.2002.7.3736