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Arthur Versluis

January 01, 1970

Arthur Versluis (born 1959) is a professor and Department Chair of Religious Studies in the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University.[web 1][web 2]

Academic career edit

Versluis did his Ph.D research at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His thesis Ex oriente lux: American Transcendentalism and the Orient (1990)[web 3] was published in 1993 as American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions.[web 4]

Research topics edit

Versluis' research focuses on western esotericism and magic, with a special interest in the influence of Platonism on western mysticism and American Transcendentalism.[web 5]

Transcendentalism and American esotericism edit

See also: Neo-Advaita and Subitism

Versluis has published a "trilogy" on American Transcendentalism and the development of western esotericism, namely American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions (1993), The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance (2001), and American Gurus: From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion (2014). In these publications, he describes the development of American Transcendentalism and its influence on western esotericism, including the contemporary phenomenon of "immediatist gurus", who promise instant enlightenment.[web 5]

In American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions, Versluis describes the influence of Asian religions on European Romanticism and on American Transcendentalism.[1] In the early 19th century, these Asian religions were introduced to the western culture, and texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads had a great impact on the Transcendental movement, and influential members like Emerson and Thoreau.[1] But Transcendentalism was also influenced by western esotericism, a topic which until recently received little attention in the academia.[1][note 1]

In The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance Versluis investigates the influence of western esotericism on the mid-19th American Renaissance. Versluis regards his The Esoteric Origins as a pioneering study in this discipline.[1]

In American Gurus: From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion, Versluis describes the emergence of immediatist gurus: gurus who are not connected to any of the traditional religions, and promise instant enlightenment and liberation.[2] These include Eckhart Tolle, Ram Dass, Adi Da, and Andrew Cohen.[3] "Immediatism" refers to "a religious assertion of spontaneous, direct, unmediated spiritual insight into reality (typically with little or no prior training), which some term 'enlightenment'."[4] According to Versluis, immediatism is typical for Americans, who want "the fruit of religion, but not its obligations."[web 5] Although immediatism has its roots in European culture and history[4] as far back as Platonism,[5] and also includes Perennialism,[6] Versluis points to Ralph Waldo Emerson as its key ancestor,[4] who "emphasized the possibility of immediate, direct spiritual knowledge and power."[5]

Christian Theosophy edit

Another "trilogy" deals with Christian theosophy, and includes Theosophia (1994), Wisdom’s Children: A Christian Esoteric Tradition (1999), and Wisdom’s Book: The Sophia Anthology (2000).[web 4]

Journals and associations edit

Versluis is an editor of the Journal for the Study of Radicalism, and founding editor of Esoterica, which started as a journal, and is now a biannual print book series, Studies in Esotericism.[web 4] Versluis is also the founding president of the Association for the Study of Esotericism.[web 4]

Works edit

Books edit

  • 2017: Platonic Mysticism: Contemplative Science, Philosophy, Literature, and Art (SUNY)
  • 2015: Perennial Philosophy (New Cultures Press)
  • 2014: American Gurus: From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion (Oxford University Press)
  • 2011: The Mystical State: Politics, Gnosis, and Emergent Cultures (New Cultures Press)
  • 2008: The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism (Inner Traditions)
  • 2007: Magic and Mysticism: An Introduction to Western Esotericism (Rowman Littlefield)
  • 2006: The New Inquisitions: Heretic-hunting and the Origins of Modern Totalitarianism (Oxford UP)
  • 2004: Restoring Paradise: Western Esotericism, Literature, and Consciousness (SUNY)
  • 2004: Awakening the Contemplative Spirit (St. Paul: New Grail)
  • 2001: The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance (Oxford University Press)
  • 2000: Island Farm (MSU Press)
  • 1999: Wisdom’s Children: A Christian Esoteric Tradition (SUNY)
  • 1996: Gnosis and Literature (St. Paul: Grail)
  • 1995: The Mysteries of Love (St. Paul: Grail)
  • 1994: Theosophia: Hidden Dimensions of Christianity (Lindisfarne Press)
  • 1994/1995: Native American Traditions (Element)
  • 1993: American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions (Oxford University Press)
  • 1993: The Elements of Native American Traditions (Element)
  • 1992: Sacred Earth: The Spiritual Landscape of Native America (Inner Traditions)
  • 1991: Song of the Cosmos: an Introduction to Traditional Cosmology (Prism/Unity)
  • 1989: Pollen and Fragments: Poetry and Prose of Novalis (Phanes)
  • 1988: The Egyptian Mysteries (Routledge, Kegan Paul)
  • 1987: Telos: A Novel (Routledge, Kegan Paul)
  • 1986: The Philosophy of Magic Routledge, Kegan Paul)

Editor edit

  • 2010: Esotericism, Religion, and Nature (co-editor) (North American Academic Press / MSU Press)
  • 2008: Esotericism, Art, and Imagination (co-editor) (MSU Press)
  • 2003: The Wisdom of Meister Eckhart, The Wisdom of Jacob Böhme, The Wisdom of John Pordage (Great Works of Christian Spirituality) (editor) (New Grail: St. Paul)
  • 2000: Wisdom’s Book: The Sophia Anthology (editor) (Paragon House)
  • 1997: The Hermetic Book of Nature (editor) (St. Paul: Grail)

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ See also Elizabeth De Michelis (2005), A History of Modern Yoga, for this neglected influence on the development of a global spirituality.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Versluis 2001, p. 3.
  2. ^ Versluis 2014, p. 1,2.
  3. ^ Versluis 2014, p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c Versluis 2014, p. 2.
  5. ^ a b Versluis 2014, p. 3.
  6. ^ Versluis 2014, p. 4.

Sources edit

Published sources edit

  • Versluis, Arthur (2001), The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance, Oxford University Press
  • Versluis, Arthur (2014), American Gurus: From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion, Oxford University Press

Web-sources edit

  1. ^ Michigan State University, Religious Studues Faculty
  2. ^ arthurversluis.com, About
  3. ^ Arthur Versluis, Ex oriente lux
  4. ^ a b c d Michigan State University, Arthus Versluis
  5. ^ a b c American Gurus: Seven Questions for Arthur Versluis April 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine

Further reading edit

  • Hanegraaff, Wouter J. (1996), New Age Religion and Western Culture. Esotericism in the mirror of Secular Thought, Leiden/New York/Koln: E.J. Brill, ISBN 90-04-10696-0
  • De Michelis, Elizabeth (2005), A History of Modern Yoga, Continuum, ISBN 978-0-8264-8772-8

External links edit

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to Arthur Versluis.
  • Selected Book Chapters, Articles, and Papers
  • Association for the Study of Esotericism
  • Professor ratings, Arthur Versluis

January 01, 1970
arthur, versluis, born, 1959, professor, department, chair, religious, studies, college, arts, letters, michigan, state, university, contents, academic, career, research, topics, transcendentalism, american, esotericism, christian, theosophy, journals, associa. Arthur Versluis born 1959 is a professor and Department Chair of Religious Studies in the College of Arts amp Letters at Michigan State University web 1 web 2 Contents 1 Academic career 2 Research topics 2 1 Transcendentalism and American esotericism 2 2 Christian Theosophy 3 Journals and associations 4 Works 4 1 Books 4 2 Editor 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Sources 8 1 Published sources 8 2 Web sources 9 Further reading 10 External linksAcademic career editVersluis did his Ph D research at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor His thesis Ex oriente lux American Transcendentalism and the Orient 1990 web 3 was published in 1993 as American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions web 4 Research topics editVersluis research focuses on western esotericism and magic with a special interest in the influence of Platonism on western mysticism and American Transcendentalism web 5 Transcendentalism and American esotericism edit See also Neo Advaita and Subitism Versluis has published a trilogy on American Transcendentalism and the development of western esotericism namely American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions 1993 The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance 2001 and American Gurus From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion 2014 In these publications he describes the development of American Transcendentalism and its influence on western esotericism including the contemporary phenomenon of immediatist gurus who promise instant enlightenment web 5 In American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions Versluis describes the influence of Asian religions on European Romanticism and on American Transcendentalism 1 In the early 19th century these Asian religions were introduced to the western culture and texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads had a great impact on the Transcendental movement and influential members like Emerson and Thoreau 1 But Transcendentalism was also influenced by western esotericism a topic which until recently received little attention in the academia 1 note 1 In The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance Versluis investigates the influence of western esotericism on the mid 19th American Renaissance Versluis regards his The Esoteric Origins as a pioneering study in this discipline 1 In American Gurus From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion Versluis describes the emergence of immediatist gurus gurus who are not connected to any of the traditional religions and promise instant enlightenment and liberation 2 These include Eckhart Tolle Ram Dass Adi Da and Andrew Cohen 3 Immediatism refers to a religious assertion of spontaneous direct unmediated spiritual insight into reality typically with little or no prior training which some term enlightenment 4 According to Versluis immediatism is typical for Americans who want the fruit of religion but not its obligations web 5 Although immediatism has its roots in European culture and history 4 as far back as Platonism 5 and also includes Perennialism 6 Versluis points to Ralph Waldo Emerson as its key ancestor 4 who emphasized the possibility of immediate direct spiritual knowledge and power 5 Christian Theosophy edit Another trilogy deals with Christian theosophy and includes Theosophia 1994 Wisdom s Children A Christian Esoteric Tradition 1999 and Wisdom s Book The Sophia Anthology 2000 web 4 Journals and associations editVersluis is an editor of the Journal for the Study of Radicalism and founding editor of Esoterica which started as a journal and is now a biannual print book series Studies in Esotericism web 4 Versluis is also the founding president of the Association for the Study of Esotericism web 4 Works editBooks edit 2017 Platonic Mysticism Contemplative Science Philosophy Literature and Art SUNY 2015 Perennial Philosophy New Cultures Press 2014 American Gurus From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion Oxford University Press 2011 The Mystical State Politics Gnosis and Emergent Cultures New Cultures Press 2008 The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism Inner Traditions 2007 Magic and Mysticism An Introduction to Western Esotericism Rowman Littlefield 2006 The New Inquisitions Heretic hunting and the Origins of Modern Totalitarianism Oxford UP 2004 Restoring Paradise Western Esotericism Literature and Consciousness SUNY 2004 Awakening the Contemplative Spirit St Paul New Grail 2001 The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance Oxford University Press 2000 Island Farm MSU Press 1999 Wisdom s Children A Christian Esoteric Tradition SUNY 1996 Gnosis and Literature St Paul Grail 1995 The Mysteries of Love St Paul Grail 1994 Theosophia Hidden Dimensions of Christianity Lindisfarne Press 1994 1995 Native American Traditions Element 1993 American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions Oxford University Press 1993 The Elements of Native American Traditions Element 1992 Sacred Earth The Spiritual Landscape of Native America Inner Traditions 1991 Song of the Cosmos an Introduction to Traditional Cosmology Prism Unity 1989 Pollen and Fragments Poetry and Prose of Novalis Phanes 1988 The Egyptian Mysteries Routledge Kegan Paul 1987 Telos A Novel Routledge Kegan Paul 1986 The Philosophy of Magic Routledge Kegan Paul Editor edit 2010 Esotericism Religion and Nature co editor North American Academic Press MSU Press 2008 Esotericism Art and Imagination co editor MSU Press 2003 The Wisdom of Meister Eckhart The Wisdom of Jacob Bohme The Wisdom of John Pordage Great Works of Christian Spirituality editor New Grail St Paul 2000 Wisdom s Book The Sophia Anthology editor Paragon House 1997 The Hermetic Book of Nature editor St Paul Grail See also editSpirituality Mysticism Nondualism Religious experienceNotes edit See also Elizabeth De Michelis 2005 A History of Modern Yoga for this neglected influence on the development of a global spirituality References edit a b c d Versluis 2001 p 3 Versluis 2014 p 1 2 Versluis 2014 p 1 a b c Versluis 2014 p 2 a b Versluis 2014 p 3 Versluis 2014 p 4 Sources editPublished sources edit Versluis Arthur 2001 The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance Oxford University Press Versluis Arthur 2014 American Gurus From Transcendentalism to New Age Religion Oxford University Press Web sources edit Michigan State University Religious Studues Faculty arthurversluis com About Arthur Versluis Ex oriente lux a b c d Michigan State University Arthus Versluis a b c American Gurus Seven Questions for Arthur Versluis Archived April 17 2016 at the Wayback MachineFurther reading editHanegraaff Wouter J 1996 New Age Religion and Western Culture Esotericism in the mirror of Secular Thought Leiden New York Koln E J Brill ISBN 90 04 10696 0 De Michelis Elizabeth 2005 A History of Modern Yoga Continuum ISBN 978 0 8264 8772 8External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Arthur Versluis Selected Book Chapters Articles and Papers Association for the Study of Esotericism Professor ratings Arthur Versluis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Versluis amp oldid 1195809721, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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