Colleagues,

I might begin by noting that we have made some improvements to the Esoterica layout, and we continue to add occasional articles and book reviews or announcements.
What follows are some important announcements concerning forthcoming conferences in the field of Western esotericism. Keep in mind that the next ASE [Association for the Study of Esotericism] conference will be in June, 2006. A call for papers will be forthcoming later this year, so watch for that. This field of study continues to grow and prosper.
With all good wishes
Prof. Arthur Versluis

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The American Academy of Religion (AAR) recently accepted an annual session on the study of Western Esotericism.

At the next conference in November, 2005, the Western Esotericism Studies Group at the American Academy of Religion will feature one group of papers dealing with European and American esoteric traditions (alchemy, astrology, Hermeticism, Kabbalah, magic, mysticism, Rosicrucianism, secret societies) and their ramifications in art history, history, literature, politics, and religion. For details, see the forthcoming conference schedule at
http://www.aarweb.org/ Note: No more proposals can be accepted for the November, 2005 AAR conference, as space is quite limited.


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During the upcoming IAHR congress, on Friday, March 25, from
17.00-19.00 the new 2-volume Brill Dictionary of Gnosis and
Western Esotericism (ed. by Wouter J. Hanegraaff in
collaboration with Antoine Faivre, Roelof van den Broek and
Jean-Pierre Brach) will be officially presented to the
international scholarly public. You are heartily invited to
be present at this unique event. With a length of over 120
pages and contributions from more than 180 international
specialists, the DGWE has is the first scholarly reference
work to cover the complete field of "Gnosis and Western
Esotericism" from late antiquity to the present day. As
such, it is a landmark in the development of our field,
which deserves to be celebrated.

The location is not yet known at this time, but will be
announced on bulletin boards at the congress site and in the
Brill stand at the book exhibit.


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Preliminary conference announcement

MASONIC AND ESOTERIC HERITAGE:
A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR ART AND CONSERVATION POLICIES

21 October 2005, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Organizers:
OVN, Foundation for the Academic Study of the History of Freemasonry in the Netherlands,
Sub department History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents, Dept. of Art, Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Amsterdam,
Chair for Cultural Heritage, conservation and restoration, Dept. of Art, Religious and Cultural Studies, University of Amsterdam.


This conference will highlight the need for documentation and preservation of the cultural heritage of Masonic and Western esoteric organizations (including 17th-20th century architecture, lodge-interiors, ritual and decorative objects, works of art, prints, books, archival and photographic materials). The emphasis will be on Freemasonry as an organization with a particularly rich material culture, but other currents, such as Hermeticism and Modern Theosophy, will also be discussed. The issues raised will be relevant to the field of study in general. The aims of the conference are:

1. To introduce art historians, conservation specialists, heritage organizations and cultural policy makers to the wide spectrum of the material heritage of Masonic and esoteric currents and its important place within our western cultural heritage as a whole;
2. To draw attention to the growing interest in this heritage category within various academic research disciplines, and the need for an overview of the remaining examples of Masonic and esoteric heritage on a local and (inter)national level;
3. To bring together experts in the field of cultural heritage and Western esotericism, as well as curators of relevant collections, to address the problems concerning the preservation of this heritage, in order to create an interdisciplinary dialogue, facilitate solutions and stimulate research and education.

Since the 1970’s there has been a growing academic interest in the study of so-called Western esoteric currents. With chairs for the study of Western esotericism and Freemasonry now established at the Universities of Paris, Amsterdam, Sheffield and Leiden, as well as research groups at other European Universities, the field is now widely recognized as a new academic discipline. The main European Masonic libraries and museums are making their historic collections and archives accessible through internet databases, facilitating research by students and scholars from disciplines such as the Social Sciences, Study of Religions and Cultural Studies. The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica, a private collection available for researchers, was placed on the official list of protected Dutch cultural heritage. The Theosophical Society in the Netherlands has recently decided to transfer its entire historical archive to the Amsterdam Municipal Archive in order to guarantee its preservation and accessibility for future research. Recent dissertations demonstrate that esoteric symbolism was an important aspect of the work of such celebrated artists as Mondriaan and Picasso. All these developments are making us more aware of the influence that esoteric organizations have had on the development of modern western culture, and of the importance of these organizations’ material culture as a research tool and a part of our collective cultural heritage.
Within art history and heritage conservation, there is a long tradition of documenting, preserving and restoring important examples of both religious, social and domestic art and architecture. But since the study of Western esotericism and related currents, such as Freemasonry, is a relatively ‘young’ academic discipline, questions concerning their material heritage have failed to attract equivalent attention among art historians, conservation specialists and heritage organizations. Insufficient familiarity with the domain in question, not infrequently aggravated by prejudice, has played an important role in creating this situation. The private and sometimes ‘secret’ character of many esoteric currents was another important factor.
While it is widely accepted that world religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism have profoundly influenced art, art historians have only just begun to realize that the membership of such organizations, as Freemasonry and Theosophy, has influenced many of our most celebrated artists in the same way. Most art historians and cultural policy makers are unaware of the research that has been devoted to the subject within Religious Studies in recent years, and hence are unable to recognize related symbolism in a work of art or an architectural design. This can have adverse effects on decisions that are made as part of a restoration process, or as part of an application for alterations or even the demolition of a historic building. Recent cases, such as the renovation of the building of the Nederlandse Handelsmaatschappij in Amsterdam (designed by architect/freemason/ theosophist K.P.C. De Bazel in 1919), illustrate how important it is to include interdisciplinary co-operation between art historians, restorers and experts in the field of Western esotericism in such a decision processes.

The conference organizers would like to make an inventory and compare the current ‘status’ of Western esoteric heritage in different European countries. The situation in the Netherlands will serve as an example in order to stimulate discussions, since Masonic heritage has particularly suffered in this country’s past: from lack of knowledge, neglect, prejudice and destruction...
Most Dutch 18th and 19th century lodge buildings and their contents were demolished during World War II following an explicit order by the Nazi regime. Other historic property was lost in the bombing raids. Since 1945 many lodges have struggled to finance the maintenance of their monumental buildings. Many have decided to move to smaller, modern accommodations. When local councils and new private owners fail to recognize the symbolism hidden in architectural design or interior decoration of a former lodge building, important landmarks are unknowingly allowed to be altered or demolished by city planners. The Freemasons Hall in The Hague was housed in a building dating back to 1745, which was donated to the Order by its Grand Master, Prince Frederik of Orange, in 1856. It was altered and extended during the 19th and 20th century, and damaged during World War II. Its grand temple was restored to its Art Deco interior after 1945. Unfortunately, this temple was demolished in 1993 by the local council to make way for offices, while luxury apartments were installed behind the historical façade. Today only a handful of 19th century lodge buildings survive to document their important role within local, social and religious history in the Netherlands. The now oldest surviving (intact) lodge interior in the city of Dordrecht dates from 1837. The material heritage of Theosophical organizations in the Netherlands has suffered a similar fate during World War II. Little is known about surviving examples of the material culture of other Western esoteric currents in this country.
The esoteric organizations that are currently active, are caring for what remains of their 17th-20th century archives, libraries, ritual and decorative objects, art and architecture. The costs of maintaining these to museum conservation standards are high, while the expert know-ledge necessary for this maintenance is not readily available within each organization. Subsidies are required to finance the care for historic buildings and collections, but the criteria of many heritage funds (still) exclude the needs of esoteric heritage. Now that the study of Western esotericism is recognized as an academic discipline, it is becoming clear that its cultural heritage deserves the same care and attention, which is already given to other examples of art and monuments. New insights have to be implemented into conservation policies, heritage laws or subsidy schemes. Important and positive turning points were the recent subsidies given to the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London by the Heritage Lottery Fund and to the Cultural Masonic Centre ‘Prince Frederik’ in the Hague by the Mondriaan Foundation and other national funds.
With so many new students and scholars devoting their research to this new discipline, there is a growing need for information about its remaining heritage. But we lack knowledge on how many historic buildings, interiors and objects remain of each esoteric current, what their individual importance for our cultural history is, and to what extend they are in need of conservation, since a national survey on the subject has never been executed. It is of the utmost importance that Masonic and esoteric monuments, landmarks, objects and other categories of cultural heritage are documented and registered in the near future. For instance, stock-taking of Masonic heritage on a local or (inter)national level, would make valuable information about one of the most influential currents in European history available to researchers of all disciplines, as well as heritage organizations and cultural policy makers. Furthermore, information about the care and conservation of historic objects and buildings needs to be made available to esoteric organizations and their individual lodges, as well as the caretakers and curators of larger esoteric collections, in order to help preserve a unique category of cultural heritage for future generations.
This conference will address these complex issues for the first time. (Details on the location and attendance fee will be made available at a later stage.)


Keynote speakers will include:
- Prof. Andrew Prescott (Centre for Research into Freemasonry, Univ. Sheffield),
- Prof.dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff (Subdept. History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents, Univ. of Amsterdam),
- Prof.dr. Frans Grijzenhout (Chair for Cultural Heritage, conservation and restoration, Univ. Amsterdam / The Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage).


Call for papers
Scholars of all disciplines are invited to submit paper proposals (of max. 250 words) on related topics. All papers are to be presented in English in sessions of ca. 30 minutes. Participants are encouraged to illustrate their papers with slides or power point presentations.
The deadline for submissions is 15 April 2005. The organizers aim to publish a selection of the presented papers in the conference prints. Papers that are to be included will have to be made available to the editors before 1 August 2005.

Papers on the following topics are especially welcomed:

- the wide spectrum of the material heritage of Masonic and Western esoteric currents (17th-20th century architecture, lodge-interiors, ritual and decorative objects, works of art, prints, books, archival and photographic materials) and its importance as a source for academic disciplines such as Social, Religious and Cultural studies;
- the place of Western esoteric heritage within Western (religious) art and social history in general;
- the deliberate destruction of Masonic and esoteric heritage following Nazi orders in World War II and the long process of returning missing objects and archives to their rightful owners;
- ongoing research projects concerning Masonic and esoteric architecture, objects or collections that are at risk of alteration or destruction;
- interdisciplinary research into the influence of esoteric symbolism on the work of artists, architects and designers; how new insights are of importance to the decision process for restoration projects and planning permissions, and/or the policies of heritage organizations;
- the need for documentation and registration of esoteric heritage on a local and (inter)national scale; possible strategies to be followed in creating such a registration or database; the future use of such data as a research tool and reference framework for historical research or conservation decisions;
- ongoing projects, new initiatives and suggestions for co-operation between the curators of esoteric collections and buildings and academic organizations in the fields of Art History, Cultural Heritage and Religious Studies, that will help document, preserve and restore Western esoteric heritage, and stimulate education;
- the need for (structural) funding of documentation, conservation and restoration of Western esoteric cultural heritage.


For more information and submission of proposals, as well as preliminary conference registration, please contact:

OVN
PO BOX 92004
NL 1090 AA Amsterdam
the Netherlands
<mailto:info@stichtingovn.nl>info@stichtingovn.nl


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DEATH AND NEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS CONFERENCE

FINYAR The Association for Research and Information on New Religious Movements International Conference Goteborg university, Department of Religious Science
23rd – 24th April 2005
Saturday 23rd April Chair: Dr. Henrik Bogdan 09:00 Registration & Coffee 10:00 Opening Dr. Henrik Bogdan, Goteborg university/Sweden 10:15 Practical announcements Conference organisers: Dr. Henrik Bogdan, Dr Jonathan Peste 10:30 Dr. J. Gordon Melton, Institute for the Study of American Religion/USA Death Takes a Holiday: The End of Life in New Religions Keynote lecture 11:15 Dr. Jonathan Peste Goteborg university/Sweden Perceptions of Death in Chassidism 12:00 Lunch Break 13:30 Thomas Karlsson, PhD-candidate, University of Stockholm/Sweden Walhalla and the Way of Wotan: Death and Initiation in the philosophy of the Rune-Gild 14:15 Kennet Granholm, PhD-candidate, Åbo Akademi University/Finland Symbolical Death and Rebirth in a Dark Magical Order 15:00 Coffee Break 15:30 Fredrik Gregorius, PhD-candidate, Lund university/Sweden Aleister Crowley and the Eternal Sun; the Cult of Life in the Thelemic Movement 16:15 Discussion of the five presentations 16:45 Liselotte Frisk Information about FINYAR 19:00 Conference dinner at the Department of Religious Studies.
Sunday 24th April Chair: Dr. Jonathan Peste 09:30 Morning Coffee & practical announcements 10:00 Dr Yuri Stoyanov, SOAS, University of London/Great Britain Death, Evil and the Fallen Angels - the paradigms of classical apocalypticism in the apocalyptically-oriented trends of the New Religious Movements 10:45 Dr. Daniel Andersson, Goteborg university/Sweden Archaeotopia: Mexican Death Cult as a New Religious Movement 11:30 Coffee Break 11:45 Dr. Henrik Bogdan, Goteborg university/Sweden Death and the Order of the Solar Temple 12:30 Discussion of the three presentations 13:00 Lunch Break 14:30 Field trip to a New Religious Movement 18:00 FINYAR annual meeting at the Department of Religious Studies

General information The conference will take place at Goteborg university, Department of Religious Studies (Institutionen for religionsvetenskap), Lennart Torstenssonsgatan 11, Goteborg, Room J109. Webpage: http://hum.gu.se/institutioner/religionsvetenskap/ The fee for the conference is 100:- SEK (approx. 12 Euro), free for students and members of FINYAR. Deadline for registration is the 15th of April. Recommended accommodation: Quality Hotel Panorama (just 5 minutes walk from the conference venue) Address: Eklandagatan 51-53, Box 24037, 400 22 Goteborg Phone: +46 (0)31 767 70 00 http://www.panorama.se/ Vandrarhem Stigbergsliden, Hostelling International (low budget alternative) Address: Stigbergsliden 10, 414 63 Goteborg Phone: + 46 (0)31-24 16 20 Fax: 031-24 65 20 E-mail: vandrarhem.stigbergsliden@telia.com http://www.hostel-gothenburg.com/ For information on meals, recommended accommodation, and registration for the conference, please contact the conference organisers: Dr. Henrik Bogdan Dr. Jonathan Peste Goteborg university Goteborg university + 46 (0)31 7735316 + 46 (0)31 7735309 henrik.bogdan@religion.gu.se jonathan.peste@religion.gu.se For information about FINYAR, please visit our webpage: www.finyar.se