Olaf Hammer: Claiming Knowledge. Strategies of Epistemology from Theosophy to the New Age

Abstract

The Swedish historian of religions Olav Hammer's doctoral dissertation on the epistemological strategies of the current European esoteric traditions is a remarkable contribution to the understanding of the historical continuum ranging from traditional Theosophy to New Age religion. Hammer's book brings together a number of different and relevant themes by discussing highly differentiated empirical material in the shape of religious texts. The main question, which the book seeks to explain, is how various religious phenomena are adapted to the conditions of the modern world? In order to answer the question, Hammer examines three discursive themes which are fundamental to the esotericism of Theosophy and subsequently New Age religion. These themes are: "Tradition", "Scientism", and "Experience".