Afterword – Global Esotericism
Michael Lackner, G. Maltese, Dominik Müller, Andreas Nehring
Method & Theory in the Study of Religion June 24, 2025 DOI: 10.1163/15700682-bja10150 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
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| Key points | The afterword responds to commentaries on CAS-E's work and proposes future research avenues focused on global religious history, family resemblances and the researcher's situatedness, and alternative rationalities, while reflecting on theoretical and methodological challenges arising from the heterogeneity of the center's fellows' materials and frameworks. |
Abstract
In this afterword, the directors of the Center for Advanced Studies ‘Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices from a Global Perspective’ (CAS-E) at Friedrich- Alexander-Universität offer a brief response to the comments by Carole Cusack, Mark Q. Gardiner, Steven Engler, Wouter Hanegraaff, Elizabeth McAlister, Jason Josephson Storm, and Hugh Urban. Reflecting on various theoretical and methodological discussions within CAS-E, particularly in light of the center’s fellows’ highly heterogeneous materials, conceptual challenges, and disciplinary frameworks, the afterword also sketches promising avenues for future research at CAS-E. These avenues focus on themes and debates, such as global religious history, family resemblances and the researcher’s situatedness, and alternative rationalities.