Why I fell in love with a little-known artist (and member of the Theosophical Society) who was once at the crossroads of Paris’ esoteric life.
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The Coming of the Digital Gods: Can You Really Get Your Religion from the Web?
A new book edited by Michele Olzi explores the Internet’s invented religions and asks whether they are here to stay.
The Prophet in the Cave: Rediscovering David Lazzaretti’s Forgotten Followers in the Sabina
The most significant Italian new religious movement of the 19th century did not exist only in Tuscany. A book reconstructs his history in the Sabina region.
A New Book on Gerald Gardner: The Wizard of Odd Who Invented Wicca (Sort Of)
John Callow does not ignore Gardner’s shortcomings but restores his complexity, generosity, and crucial role in the creation of a new global religion.
Wifredo Lam: Raising Orishas at MoMA
In the New York exhibition, the Cuban artist returns in full spiritual force, his canvases pulsing with Santería, Vodun, and the whispered knowledge of Lydia Cabrera.
“Secrets in Contact”: When Secrets Become Bridges
A welcome antidote to modern “secretophobia,” even if its final chapter stumbles into the very polemics the rest of the book transcends.
Theosophy and the Visual Arts. 3. Theosophy and Abstract Art
The crucial Theosophical influence on the fathers of modern abstract art has been progressively rediscovered in recent years.
Theosophy and the Visual Arts. 2. Theosophy and Symbolism
“Symbolism” offered to artists willing to express Theosophical ideas the language they were looking for.
Theosophy and the Visual Arts. 1. Early Theosophical Didactic Art
Of all spiritual and religious organizations, none has had a greater influence on modern art than the Theosophical Society.
A New Book on the Jehovah’s Witnesses from Cambridge University Press
Jolene Chu and Ollimatti Peltonen, both researchers and members of the organization themselves, offer a short but well-crafted introduction.