Socialist Religion and the Emergence of Occultism

Autor(en)

Julian Strube

Abstrakt

It is often assumed that the history of 19th-century France was determined by a struggle between anti-religious progressive reformers and Catholic reactionaries, culminating in laïcité. In this process, the role of socialism as a secular force is usually taken for granted. This article will argue that a more complex approach to socialism can contribute to a better understanding of secularization and the emergence of “modern” forms of religion. Firstly, it will be discussed that pre-1848 social reformers were highly religious, despite their depiction in historical narratives influenced by Marxism. Secondly, it will be shown that socialist ideas continued, after 1848, in new religious movements. This will be demonstrated on the basis of the intellectual development of the socialist Alphonse-Louis Constant who, under his pen-name Eliphas Lévi, is regarded as the founder of occultism. An analysis of his writings will help to illuminate the ambiguous relationship between socialism and secularization.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Religionswissenschaft

Journal

Religion

Band

46

Seiten

359-388

Anzahl der Seiten

30

ISSN

0048-721X

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/0048721X.2016.1146926

Publikationsdatum

07-2016

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

603909 Religionswissenschaft

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

History, Sociology and Political Science

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/socialist-religion-and-the-emergence-of-occultism(30af1a12-9ce5-46c2-95f2-3bce987b9343).html