Mrs. Holloway (1843-1930) is a character from early theosophical history who is all but forgotten by theosophists and non theosophists alike. Still, as can be learned from this new biography, she seemed on just way to theosophical fame at one point. She received quite a few Mahatma letters, was comfortable around Blavatsky, very close to Judge [...]
Best academic books about religion and spirituality
I have to say – these are probably the books I enjoy most: historical analysis, sociological perspective and sound fact. They’re never the books that sell best, but I do enjoy reading them and writing about them. They’re the books I learn most from.
Jonathan Wright tells a story that is well known in academia: that heretics are the counter point to true faith: that true faith needs heretics to define itself. That said: he tells the story brilliantly for a more general audience, with details that most readers will be unfamiliar with. From Arius to Martin Luther and John [...]
Reviewed in the West as the only decent biography of Sri Aurobindo Goshe, from politician, to poet and guru. This guy lived a fascinating life and Peter Heehs describes as many aspects of it as the Sri Aurobindo archives can help enlighten us on. In India this is a controversial book. It’s even been banned [...]
Written for theologians and philosophers this overview of the state of NDE research includes original research as well. The best introduction to the topic for the academic I have seen as well as the most challenging one for the rest of us. Given it’s target audience this is not the most accessible of books about [...]
THE book about one of the most controversial topics in occult history: the relationship between Nazism and occultism. Few people outside the occult or Neo Nazi subcultures (which don’t have a large overlap, fortunately) know much about the topic in this book. It is important both as a permanent warning to occultists, as well as [...]