Magic in the Modern World: Strategies of Repression and Legitimization Bever, Edward
This compelling collection delves into the intricate relationship between magic and the modern world, charting how contemporary society initially defined itself in stark opposition to esoteric practices. It then illuminates the ingenious ways magic's proponents have adapted, finding new avenues for legitimization through evolving forms of esotericism and supernaturalism. The essays explore the construction of the modern self, examining how both scientific and magical traditions rationalize their truths, and revealing why many, disillusioned with modern norms, turn to magical systems, actively shaping their contemporary relevance and acceptance.
Praise for this book
“Ever since the nineteenth century, it has been a staple of the discourse on modern society that magic and supernaturalism were on their way out. The contributors to this splendid volume explain why this idea has been so persuasive, and why it is utterly wrong.”
📝 Description: Magic in the Modern World: Strategies of Repression and Legitimization Bever, Edward
📑 What's inside
- Introduction, Edward Bever and Randall Styers
- Magic and the Making of Modernity
- Chapter 1, "Bad Habits, or, How Superstition Disappeared in the Modern World," Randall Styers
- Chapter 2, "Descartes' Dreams, the Neuropsychology of Disbelief, and the Making of the Modern Self," Edward Bever
- Chapter 3, "Why Magic Cannot Be Falsified by Experiments," Benedek Láng
- Chapter 4, "Witches as Liars: Witchcraft and Civilization in the Early American Republic," Adam Jortner
- Magic in Modernity
- Chapter 5, "Loagaeth, q consibra a caosg: The Contested Arena of Modern Enochian Angel Magic," Egil Asprem
- Chapter 6, "Babalon Launching: Jack Parsons, Rocketry, and the 'Method of Science, '" Erik Davis
- Chapter 7, "Manning the High Seat: Seidr as Self-Making in Contemporary NorseNeopaganisms," Megan Goodwin
- Chapter 8, "Reviving Dead Names: Strategies of Legitimization in the Necronomicon of Simon and the Dark Aesthetic," Dan Harms
- Selected Bibliography
- Notes
- List of Contributors
- Index
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book offers profound insights for scholars and practitioners interested in the sociological underpinnings of magical practice. It is ideal for readers fascinated by how modernity’s rational facade represses yet simultaneously redefines esoteric traditions. Those seeking to understand why disillusioned individuals turn to magic will find this analysis invaluable. The text illuminates the ingenious adaptations of proponents who have found new avenues for legitimization. It provides a crucial framework for grasping the construction of the modern self through both scientific and magical lenses. Readers interested in the tension between tradition and contemporary acceptance will gain a deeper appreciation for how esotericism evolves to remain relevant today.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
This volume presents a rigorous academic exploration of magic’s relationship with modernity, focusing on strategies of repression and legitimization. It is essential for those studying the sociology of religion or the history of esotericism. However, it may not suit casual readers seeking practical spells or straightforward historical narratives. The dense theoretical framework requires patience and an interest in abstract concepts regarding truth and rationality. Those looking for accessible, non-academic takes on witchcraft might find the tone too detached. Nevertheless, it remains a significant contribution to understanding how magical systems shape contemporary identity and societal norms through complex intellectual discourse.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
For those fascinated by the cultural history of ideas, the evolution of belief systems, or the ongoing dialogue between science and esotericism, this book offers profound insights. If you ponder how magic survives and transforms in an increasingly secular age, this scholarly inquiry is for you.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Repression of Magic
Explore how the foundational tenets of modernity actively sought to marginalize and discredit magical thought, branding it as superstition. This collection dissects the historical processes through which rational consciousness was established, often by explicitly casting magic as its intellectual and cultural antithesis, shaping our collective understanding of what is deemed valid and true.
Legitimization Strategies
Discover the diverse and often ingenious methods employed by modern magical practitioners to assert the validity of their craft. The essays reveal how various esoteric and supernatural traditions have strategically embraced and adapted to contemporary frameworks, ensuring their persistence and even flourishing, despite dominant cultural narratives that deny their efficacy or existence.
Modern Self & Magic
Unpack the complex interplay between individual identity in the modern era and the enduring allure of magic. This volume examines how the construction of the 'modern self' can lead to dissatisfaction with purely rationalist worldviews, prompting a search for meaning and empowerment in magical practices, and how these practitioners navigate their beliefs within a skeptical society.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Esotericism
- Legitimization
- Modernity
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on how your personal understanding of 'magic' has been shaped by societal narratives. Do you see magic as inherently opposed to rationality, or can they coexist?
- Consider examples in contemporary culture where seemingly 'irrational' or 'magical' beliefs gain legitimacy. What strategies are used to make them acceptable or even appealing?
- How does the concept of the 'modern self' influence an individual's inclination towards or rejection of esoteric practices? What does embracing magic offer that modern norms might lack?
