Asia, Modernity, and the Pursuit of the Sacred Gnostics, Scholars, M
Asia, Modernity, and the Pursuit of the Sacred examines a large number of Europeans who, disillusioned with western culture and religion after World War I, and anticipating the spiritual seekers of the counterculture, turned to the religious traditions of
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Joel S. Kahn
Asia, Modernity, and the Pursuit of the Sacred
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Asia, Modernity, and the Pursuit of the Sacred Gnostics, Scholars, Mystics, and Reformers Joel S. Kahn
Palgrave
macmillan
ASIA , MODERNITY, AND THE PURSUIT OF THE SACRED
Copyright © Joel S. Kahn 2016 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2016 978-1-137-56794-9 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission. In accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. First published 2016 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN The author has asserted their right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of Nature America, Inc., One New York Plaza, Suite 4500, New York, NY 10004-1562. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world.
ISBN 978-1-349-55389-1 E-PDF ISBN: 978–1–137–56795–6 DOI: 10.1057/9781137567956
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kahn, Joel S., author Asia, modernity, and the pursuit of the sacred : gnostics, scholars, mystics and reformers / Joel S. Kahn. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Asia—Religion—Study and teaching—Europe—History—20th century. 2. Christianity and other religions—Asian. 3. East and West. 4. Europe—Civilization—Oriental influences. 5. Spirituality—Europe— History—20th century. 6. Mysticism—Europe—History—20th century. 7. Ethnology—Religious aspects. I. Title. BL1033.K34 2015 200.9⬘04—dc23
2015019819
A catalogue record for the book is available from the British Library.
For Zoë Barrett-Kahn
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Contents
Preface
ix
Acknowledgments
xv
1 Anthropology and the Limits of Secular Reason
1
2 Gnosticism and the Pursuit of the Sacred
15
3 Traditionalism: A Dialectic of Authenticity
29
4 Gnostics, Religion, and the (Mis)Recognition of Modernity
55
5 Modern Mystics: Toward a Gnostic Science
79
6 The Inner Journey of the Gnostic Self: Ethics and Politics
99
7 Other Worlds or Ours? Sacred/Secular/Gnostic/Modern
121
8 What if Culture Did Not Matter? Asian Studies and the New Universalism(s)
147
Notes
157
References
173
Index
187
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Preface
S
everal years ago, I picked up a copy of the then recently published A Secular A
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