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ESSWE News

Stay up-to-date about recent developments in the field of Western Esotericism. If you want to announce News on this website, please contact the webmaster.

For lots of other interesting news regarding the Society and the field of research in general, please visit the ESSWE blog. If you want to participate, please go to http://esswe.blogspot.com. The rules for the Blog Online Newsletter are as follows:

All visitors can read the posts.

All members of the ESSWE can comment on posts.

All members of the board of ESSWE may make posts to the blog for announcements of events, books, etc. Members of the ESSWE should submit announcements and articles to the editor, Mark Sedgwick.

Ortodossie ed Eterodossie in Eta Moderna

Mar 09 2010
Ortodossie ed Eterodossie in Eta Moderna
Seminario di Studi
Universita di Cagliari 11-12 March 2010
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Tradizioni Filosofiche e Tradizioni Mistiche, Magiche ed Esoteriche: Modelli di Razionalita a Confronto

Mar 09 2010
TRADIZIONI FILOSOFICHE E TRADIZIONI MISTICHE, MAGICHE ED ESOTERICHE: MODELLI DI RAZIONALITÀ A CONFRONTO

Seminario di Studi
Universita di Cagliari 17-18 March 2010
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Call for Articles Semeia Studies volume one

Feb 03 2010
A key text for Jews and Christians is Genesis 1-3, which recounts the story of the creation and of the Garden of Eden. These two episodes have had an enormous effect on subsequent Western thought in terms of the emergence (as well as the rejection) of science, attitudes towards human nature, and the construction of social and cultural norms. For this volume we are interested in papers ...
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A new program for the academic study of esotericism and related subjects in the USA

Jan 18 2010
Gnosticism, Esotericism and Mysticism (GEM) for PhD students at Rice University
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Call for Articles: Esotericism, Religion and Politics

Jan 08 2010
Call for Articles for the third volume in the Studies in Esotericism series - a focus on political implications of esoteric religious groups, figures, or movements.

Proposals to be sent to ASEOffice@gmail.com by February 15, 2010
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ESSWE Thesis Prize

Jul 04 2009
Robert Collis receives the ESSWE Thesis Prize for 2007-09 for an outstanding European Ph.D. thesis on Western Esotericism, “The Petrine Instauration: Religion, Esotericism and Science at the Court of Peter the Great, 1689-1725”.
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Dr. Peter Forshaw Assistant Professor for History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period, University of Amsterdam

May 29 2009
Dr. Peter Forshaw has been elected as Assistant Professor for the History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern period. He will succeed Dr. Kocku von Stuckrad who moves to the University of Groningen as Professor of Religious Studies. Dr. Forshaw's appointment at GHF will begin on september 1, 2009.
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Vacancy for an Assistant Professor (m/f) History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period

Mar 02 2009
The Center for "History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents" (GHF) at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities is looking for An Assistant Professor (m/f) History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period.
Read more 

Call for Papers Esotericism Panel EASR Conference

Mar 01 2009
Call for Papers for a panel, to be held at the EASR conference
“Religion in the History of European Culture”
Messina, 14-17 September 2009

Panel: ‘The presence of esoteric currents and ideas in Italy from the 18th century to our days’

Convenor: Marco Pasi (University of Amsterdam)
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Call for Papers: "The Threat and Allure of the Magical in Literature, Language, Philosophy, History and the Arts"

Dec 17 2008
"The Threat and Allure of the Magical in Literature, Language, Philosophy, History and the Arts"

17th Annual Interdisciplinary German Studies Conference at the University of California, Berkeley March 13-15, 2009

Dating back to the 9th Century Old High German Merseburg Incantations (die Merseburger Zaubersprüche) and their influence on the fairy-tale world of the Brothers Grimm, references to the magical boil forth from a wide range of cultural forms, from Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) in music to Werner Herzog’s Invincible in film. In silent film, modern literature and the arts, magic both heralded and haunted an artistic revolution in which the avant-garde and the occult recurrently intersected. In critical theory, ideology is often described in terms of a spell. Accordingly, this conference presents an opportunity to explore these cultural encounters with the magical and further inquire why this space of radical alterity carries such an allure and/or threat.
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Submission of Proposals for the 2nd International Conference of the ESSWE extended until 30 November 2008

Oct 26 2008
The 2nd International Conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism will be devoted to the theme "Capitals of European esotericism and transcultural dialogue."

The conference will be organized by the University of Strasbourg (Equipe d’accueil d’Etudes germaniques, EA 1341/UDS) and the Maison interuniversitaire des Sciences de l’Homme-Alsace (MISHA) in partnership with the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE).

It will be hold between 2 and 4 July 2009 in Strasbourg, France, Maison interuniversitaire des Sciences de l’Homme-Alsace.

The deadline for submitting proposals has been extended to 30 November 2008.

For the Call for Papers, click "Read more".
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Call for Papers "Enlightenment and Esotericism – Ways into Modernity"

Oct 14 2008
The DFG Research Group "The Enlightenment in the Referential Context of Modern Esotericism" (Die Aufklärung im Bezugsfeld neuzeitlicher Esoterik) hosts an International Conference devoted to the topic "Enlightenment and Esotericism – Ways into Modernity"

The conference, organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for European Enlightenment Studies (Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für die Erforschung der Europäischen Aufklärung (IZEA)), will take place in Halle, Germany, March 9-12, 2010.

For a detailed description and the CALL FOR PAPERS, see "read more."
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Job opening at Rice University

Sep 26 2008
The Department of Religious Studies at Rice University invites applications and nominations for an assistant professor in "religious thought"; one of the possible areas of expertise is Western esotericism.
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ESSWE PhD Thesis Prize

Sep 10 2008
The Board of ESSWE has decided to introduce a PhD Thesis Prize.
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Exhibition "The Great Transformation - Art and Tactical Magic" in Frankfurt (Germany)

Jul 03 2008
The Frankfurter Kunstverein, a major national and international institution for contemporary art in Germany, presents an exhibion on "The Great Transformation - Art and Tactical Magic," from 7 June to 7 September 2008.
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Call for Papers "Unbegreifliche Zeiten: Wunder im 20. Jahrhundert"

Apr 11 2008
The Kulturwissenschaftliches Institut (KWI), in collaboration with the Arbeitskreis Geschichte + Theorie is organizing a conference on miracles in the twentieth century. The Titel is "Unbegreifliche Zeiten: Wunder im 20. Jahrhundert."

The conference, organized by Alexander C.T. Geppert and Till Kössler, will be hold in Essen (Germany), from 19-21 March 2009.

The GErman Call for Papers is out now, see "Read more". The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 May 2008.
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ESSWE at the EASR: Call for Papers

Apr 04 2008
ESSWE has no conference in 2008. Instead, ESSWE is organizing two panels for the 2008 conference of the European Association for the Study of Religions EASR, which will be held in Brno, Czech Republic from 7 to 11 September 2008.

Two calls for papers have been prepared for two panels:

‘Ex Oriente Lux: The Presence of Western Esotericism in Eastern Europe’

‘The Political Temptations of Western Esotericism’

Click on "read more" for the Call for the two panels.

Proposals for papers should be emailed to Osvald Vasicek, University of Amsterdam, accompanied by a short personal description of the author with academic affiliation etc. Deadline for proposal submission is 24 April 2008.
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Call for Papers 2nd International Conference of the ESSWE

Mar 30 2008
The 2nd International Conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism will be devoted to the theme "Capitals of European esotericism and transcultural dialogue."

The conference will be organized by the University of Strasbourg (Equipe d’accueil d’Etudes germaniques, EA 1341/UDS) and the Maison interuniversitaire des Sciences de l’Homme-Alsace (MISHA) in partnership with the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE).

It will be held between 2 and 4 July 2009 in Strasbourg, France, Maison interuniversitaire des Sciences de l’Homme-Alsace.

The CALL FOR PAPERS and a detailed description is available now. Please click "Read more." The deadline for submission is 15 June 2008.
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Call for Papers 3rd Annual Alternative Expressions of the Numinous Conference

Feb 25 2008
The Esoteric Studies Research and Teaching Group, in conjunction with the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics at the University of Queensland presents the

3rd Annual Alternative Expressions of the Numinous Conference

Date: Friday 15 – Sunday 17 August 2008
Venue: School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Australia

Conference Chairs: Dr Helen Farley, Julie Washington, and Håkan Sandgren

For the Call for Papers, click "Read more"
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The Research Center "The Enlightenment in the Referential Context of Modern Esotericism" of the German Research Foundation DFG

Feb 11 2008
The Research Center "The Enlightenment in the Referential Context of Modern Esotericism" of the German Research Foundation DFG is carrying out interdisciplinary research into the dynamics of esotericism and Enlightenment, particularly in the 18th century. The research center, located at the University of Halle (Germany), combines individual projects with conferences, workshops, and lectures. For its latest Newsletter (in German), see "Read More"
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ESSWE blog open now!

Nov 07 2007
In addition to the News button on the ESSWE site, we have now opened an ESSWE blog. If you want to participate, please click the link!
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Call for Papers CESNUR conference 2008

Sep 18 2007
The topic of the 2008 CESNUR conference is "Twenty Years and More: Research into Minority Religions, New Religious Movements and 'the New Spirituality.'"

This international conference is organized by INFORM and CESNUR in association with ISORECEA at the London School of Economics, 16-19th April 2008.

The Call for Papers is available online (see link).
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PhD Position at the University of Amsterdam

Sep 03 2007
The Center for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents, department of Religious Studies, University of Amsterdam, has a vacancy for a PhD position in the field of western esotericism, preferably focusing on modern esotericism (18th-21st centuries).
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Cambridge Centre for the Study of Western Esotericism

Jun 06 2007
The CAMBRIDGE CENTRE for the study of WESTERN ESOTERICISM is independent of any academic or esoteric communities. The co-ordinators share an interest in the need for a wider dialogue between scholars and practitioners in the field of western esotericism and in the establishment of a secular space in which an interdisciplinary network can thrive.
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Program of the Inaugural Conference of ESSWE now online

Apr 23 2007
The draft program of the inaugural conference of ESSWE, hold at Tübingen University, Germany, 20-22 July 2007, is now available on http://www.lehrstuhl-kilcher.uni-tuebingen.de/protag.php?typ=1&id=7
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Vacancy for an Assistant Professor (m/f) History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period

Mar 02 2007
The Center for “History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents” (GHF) at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities is looking for
An Assistant Professor (m/f) History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period
Read more 

Enormous response to inaugural conference of ESSWE

Dec 16 2006
The response to the Call for Papers for the inaugural conference of the ESSWE in Tübingen (Germany), 20-22 July 2007, has been enormous. The program committee and a selection committee have already begun to evaluate the more than 70 proposals and to work on a tentative program. The official deadline for submitting proposals is 31 December 2006. (See the Call for Papers under "Agenda".)
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Call for Paper for conference on "Western Esotericism" in Turku (Finland) out now

Nov 01 2006
The Call for Paper for an international conference on "Western Esotericism" (15-17 August 2007), organized by the Donner Institute, Åbo (Turku), Finland, is out now. Although the Call for Papers is in Swedish, the conference language will be English.
For more information, see "Agenda" or the conference website.
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ESSWE has more than 100 members now

Sep 25 2006
As of September 25, 2006, the ESSWE has 110 members. This is a great success indeed, and what is more, our members come from many different countries and represent both established scholars and students.
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Vatican Chair for "Religions and Unconventional Spiritualities"

Aug 24 2006
In reference to the recent announcement of the creation of a chair for the study of esotericism in a Vatican university, a rectification seems to be necessary (prompted by one of our members, PierLuigi Zoccatelli). The official title of the chair is "Religions and unconventional spiritualities" ("Religioni e Spiritualità Non Convenzionali").
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First ESSWE Newsletter out now!

Aug 12 2006
The first ESSWE Newsletter is out now and can be accessed via this website (see "Agenda & News"). 18 pages full of news, views, and information.
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First Volume of the Aries Book Series Out Now

Jul 20 2006
The first volume of the Aries Book Series has been published:
Urszula Szulakowska, The Sacrificial Body and the Day of Doom: Alchemy and Apocalyptic Discourse in the Protestant Reformation.

Members of ESSWE receive a discount on this publication.
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Major Event: "An Esoteric Quest in Central Europe: From Renaissance Bohemia to Goethe's Weimar"

Jul 03 2006
The New York Open Center and Lapis Magazine Online host a conference titled: "An Esoteric Quest in Central Europe" from August 31 until September 8. The conference will be held at three differenct places in Central Europe, starting in the Czech Republic and moving to Weimar in Germany.
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Inaugural Conference of the ESSWE: Call for Papers now available

Jun 14 2006
We are pleased to announce the inaugural conference of the ESSWE that will be held at the University of Tübingen (Germany), on 20-22 July 2007. The conference's overall topic is "Constructing Tradition: Means and Myths of Transmission in Western Esotericism". The deadline for submitting proposals is 31 December 2006.
For a detailed description and the Call for Papers see the announcement under "Agenda".
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Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica Catalogue online

May 31 2006
Good news for long-distance users of the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (Ritman Library) Amsterdam: from today the catalogue of modern and pre-1800 printed books is online. The catalogue can be accessed via the ‘SEARCH CATALOGUE’ button on the library's website. The catalogue has a number of search options, including author, title, year, printers, but also names of former owners.
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Exciting Response to ESSWE Website

Mar 25 2006
Two weeks after the ESSWE website went online, we welcome the 50th member!
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ESSWE website now online and working

Mar 10 2006
In March 2006, the dynamic website of ESSWE went online. Now it is possible to apply for membership online, and members can take full advantage of the many interesting features this site provides.
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Vacancy for an Assistant Professor (m/f) History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period

Mar 20 2002
The Center for “History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents” (GHF) at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities is looking for An Assistant Professor (m/f) History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period.
Read more 

Call for Papers 3rd Annual Alternative Expressions of the Numinous Conference

Nov 30 1999
The Esoteric Studies Research and Teaching Group in conjunction with the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics at the University of Queensland presents the 3rd Annual Alternative Expressions of the Numinous Conference

Date: Friday 15 – Sunday 17 August 2008
Venue: School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Australia

Conference Chairs: Dr Helen Farley, Julie Washington, and Håkan Sandgren

For the Call for Papers, click "Read more"
Read more 

Vacancy Assistant Professor History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period

Nov 30 1999
Read more 

Vacancy Assistant Professor History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period

Nov 30 1999
The Center for “History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents” (GHF)
at the University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Humanities,
is looking for

[b]An Assistant Professor (m/f)
History of Western Esotericism in the Early Modern Period[/b]
Read more 

CFP: IAHR Quinquennial World Congress - "Religion: A Human Phenomenon"

Nov 30 1999
Panel: "Western esotericism and its boundaries: Between discourses of identity and difference"
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Call for Papers - IAHR Quinquennial World Congress: "Religion: A Human Phenomenon" (Toronto)

Nov 30 1999
Call for Papers for a panel at the IAHR Quinquennial World Congress on "Western esotericism and its boundaries: Between discourses of identity and difference".

Convenors: Allison Coudert (University of California at Davis), Cathy Gutierrez (Sweet Briar College), Marco Pasi (Universiteit van Amsterdam)
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