The Re-Enchantment of the West Volume 1

Western society and culture are often described in sociological and theological texts as increasingly secular. This work (the first of two volumes) challenges this thesis and introduces the reader to the principal theories and debates surrounding the state of religion in the West (including secularization, sacralization, Easternization and the development of New Religious Movements). Book jacket.

Christopher Partridge is Professor of Contemporary Religion at University College Chester, United Kingdom

Acknowledgements

ix

Introduction

1

(7)

Part I THE DISENCHANTMENT AND THE RE-ENCHANTMENT OF THE WEST

Chapter 1 THE DISENCHANTMENT OF THE WEST

8

(9)

Types of Secularization

8

(1)

Max Weber and the Disenchantment of the World

8

(3)

What Secularization Is Not

11

(2)

Rationalization and Pluralism

13

(3)

Concluding Comments

16

(1)

Chapter 2 UNDERSTANDING NEW RELIGIONS AND ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUALITIES

17

(21)

Max Weber on Sectarianism and Charisma

17

(2)

Ernst Troeltsch on Churches, Sects and Mysticism

19

(3)

H. Richard Niebuhr on Sectarianism

22

(1)

Bryan Wilson on Sectarianism

23

(1)

Towards a Typology of the New Religious Life

24

(5)

Secularization and New Age Spiritualities

29

(9)

Chapter 3 THE RE-ENCHANTMENT OF THE WEST

38

(24)

Disenchantment as the Precursor to Re-Enchantment

38

(8)

Spiritual, But Not Religious: Non-Traditional Religious Vitality

46

(4)

De-Exotification and Contextualization

50

(7)

Concluding Comments

57

(5)

Part II THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OCCULTURE

Chapter 4 OCCULTURE

62

(25)

The Cultic Milieu and Mystical Religion

62

(4)

Occulture

66

(2)

The Occult

68

(3)

The Significance of the Self

71

(4)

The Priority of Experience and a Hermeneutic of Suspicion

75

(2)

Romanticizing the Premodern

77

(1)

Pagan Occulture

78

(6)

Concluding Comments

84

(3)

Chapter 5 EASTERNIZATION?

87

(32)

Turning East

87

(2)

East Meets West

89

(3)

The Significance of the 1893 World Parliament of Religions

92

(4)

A Revolution of Consciousness: The Sacralizing Significance of the 1960's

96

(9)

Western Teachers in Eastern Traditions

105

(1)

Easternization? Problems and Proposals

106

(6)

Quasi-Religion, Instrumental Activism, and Syncretism

112

(5)

Concluding Comments

117

(2)

Chapter 6 POPULAR OCCULTURE: LITERATURE AND FILM

119

(24)

Popular Culture as Religious Text?

120

(1)

The Dilution Thesis

121

(2)

The Significance of Popular Culture

123

(3)

Supernatural Horror: Vampire Fiction

126

(5)

Cool Occulture

131

(5)

Popular Sacred Narratives

136

(5)

Concluding Comments

141

(2)

Chapter 7 POPULAR OCCULTURE: MUSIC

143

(42)

Adorno and Popular Music

143

(4)

The Occultural Significance of Popular Music

147

(4)

The Easternization of Popular Music

151

(5)

Festival Culture

156

(10)

Psychedelic Trance Culture

166

(9)

Chilling Out with Ambient and Dub

175

(3)

The Sacred Art of Dub

178

(5)

Concluding Comments

183

(2)

CONCLUDING COMMENTS: PREDICTING RELIGION

185

(4)

Notes

189

(35)

Bibliography

224

(23)

Discography

247

(2)

Filmography

249

(1)

Index

250

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The Re-Enchantment of the West Volume 1 Alternative Spiritualities, Sacralization, Popular Culture and Occulture

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Re-Enchantment of the West Volume 1 Alternative Spiritualities, Sacralization, Popular Culture and Occulture

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License