Dark Enlightenment: The Historical, Sociological, and Discursive Contexts of Contemporary Esoteric Magic

by Kennet Granholm

In Dark Enlightenment Kennet Granholm explores the historical, sociological, and discursive contexts of contemporary esoteric magic. The book is focused on the Sweden-originated Left-Hand Path magic order Dragon Rouge in particular, but through a detailed contextualizing examination of this case study it offers a broader visage of contemporary esotericism in general. The author takes cue from both the historiography of Western esotericism and the sociological study of new religions and religious change, aiming to provide a transdisciplinary framework for a comprehensive study of esotericism in late modernity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion

242 pages, Hardcover

First published July 4, 2014

About the author

Dr. Kennet Granholm, Ph.D. (Comparative Religion, Åbo Akademi University. 2005; M.A., Comparative Religion, Åbo A.U., 2001), is a former academic, with an expertise in contemporary esotericism. With Egil Asprem he co-founded the Contemporary Esotericism Research Network (ContERN), and is also co-founder and Finnish National Coordinator of Scandinavian Network for the Academic Study of Western Esotericism (SNASWE), both operating under the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE).

Reviews

[Claire]

I really enjoyed this. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to deepen their understanding of contemporary esotericism in how it affects their magical practices. This book has provided me with a strong foundation in building my own set of magical practices while providing me with a larger vocabulary to identify my own principles as I pursue this path. Until now my main point of reference outside of the mainstream (more consumerist) current of esotericism has been Alejandro Jodorowsky's work, with psychomagic being a practice which I have used extensively in my work as a teacher. This has given me a much better knowledge in the differences between magic, religion and science and this knowledge has really excited me as I can now approach my practices as a construction of religion, which is a possibility I had considered, but not really had a proper grip on. I recommend this book highly and I will be using the very fleshy bibliography as a reading list.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the Satanism that vibes with Neo Nazis but not so much about that connection in particular.