This book provides a comparative analysis of cosmopolitan (esoteric) religious movements, such as Theosophy, Groupe Independent des Études Ésotériques, Anthroposophy, and Monism, in England, France, Germany, and India during the late nineteenth-century to the interwar years. Despite their diversity, these factions manifested a set of common features—anti-materialism, embrace of Darwinian evolution, and a belief in universal spirituality—that coalesced in a transnational field of analogous cosmopolitan spiritual affinities. Yet, in each of their geopolitical locations these groups developed vastly different interpretations and applications of their common spiritual tenets. This book explores how such religious innovation intersected with the social (labor and economic renewal), cultural (education and religious innovation) and political (Empire and anti-colonial) dynamics in these vastly different national domains. Ultimately, it illustrates how an innovative religious discourse converged with the secular world and became applied to envision a new social order—to spiritually re-engineer the world.
Table of Content
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Cosmopolitan Spirituality: Rectifying Materialism.- Chapter 3: The Progress Of Evolution And Spiritual Science.- Chapter 4: Re-Articulating History And Universal Visions.- Chapter 5: Spiritual Elites: Setting The Stage Of Social And Political Conviction.- Chapter 6: Merit-Based Karma And Social Engineering In Germany And France .- Chapter 7: England’s And India’s Spiritual Empire: Merit-Based Karma And Social Engineering.- Chapter 8: Cosmopolitan Spirituality: National Merit In Germany And France.- Chapter 9: A New And Improved Empire: British Spiritual Imperialism And Indian National Renewal.- Chapter 10: Epilogue.
About the author
Perry Myers is Professor of German Studies at Albion College in Michigan, USA.
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