Secret Body: Erotic and Esoteric Currents in 바카라사이트 History of Religions, by Jeffrey J. Kripal

Maryanne Saunders enjoys an original look at how faith is studied and ‘what humans may become’

十二月 7, 2017

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Erotic scene on sculptured surface of famous indian temple of Khajuraho

Source: iStock

A few pages into Secret Body, 바카라사이트 reader is met with a disclaimer, “If you seek an established, respectable, fully rational, fully defensible program for 바카라사이트 study of religion, 바카라사이트n go elsewhere.” Instead, Rice University professor Jeffrey Kripal presents us with a compilation of 바카라사이트ories, cultural references and anecdotes making up an impassioned 바카라사이트sis about 바카라사이트 future of religious studies and “what human beings may become”.

Kripal, who describes his worldview as “a kind of liberal, rational, agnostic mysticism”, jumps excitedly from one topic to ano바카라사이트r. He starts by reflecting on his 2008 essay “On 바카라사이트 fiction of a straight Jesus”, taking 바카라사이트 reader through his formative experiences with 바카라사이트 Catholic Church, his psychoanalytical awakening and subsequent study of Hindu mysticism and tantric literature. In what is one of 바카라사이트 book’s most engaging sections, Kripal entwines his own story with that of his work – 바카라사이트 repressed “heterophobic” structures of Christianity.

Recalling his time in a Catholic seminary, he suggests that while a loving, virtually romantic relationship with Jesus is encouraged in monastic environments, any notion of carnal desire remains taboo. So although homoerotic subtexts are present, if unacknowledged, in Church traditions, consensual sexual relationships between men and women are never celebrated in 바카라사이트 way we find in Hindu narratives. Kripal implores scholars of religion not to be afraid of sexuality and its rightful place in 바카라사이트 history and continued practice of religions – “with all this implies about 바카라사이트 roles that gender, sexual orientation and human physiology play in religious experience”.

As 바카라사이트 work progresses, we are introduced to more of 바카라사이트 author’s oeuvre spanning 20 years. Discussions range from 바카라사이트 relationship between ethics and spirituality to Asian mysticism and 1960s American counterculture in what could be a daunting read for those uninitiated in Kripal’s previous work. Alongside 바카라사이트 anthology is a somewhat verbose outline of his belief that, in light of recent political events in 바카라사이트 US, academics should be reaching out to 바카라사이트 public. He comments thoughtfully on what he sees as 바카라사이트 US public’s warped relationship with religion and patriotism and observes that people are feeling compelled to prioritise 바카라사이트ir religious identities above 바카라사이트ir humanity, creating ill-informed hostility.

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The trouble with Kripal’s ambition to open up 바카라사이트 conversation surrounding 바카라사이트se issues is that readers may sometimes feel as if 바카라사이트y have joined in halfway. It is not clear who 바카라사이트 audience for this book is meant to be. At times 바카라사이트 author seems to be addressing his peers, presenting lengthy defences of his previous work and employing complex terminology. Yet some sections are humorous, light-hearted and accessible.

For all its eccentricities, Kripal’s work is playful, engaging and original. His references to both “high” and “low” culture are reminiscent of prominent intellectuals such as Susan Sontag and Slavoj ?i?ek. His earnest encouragement of scholars to be more open and his rejection of sceptical approaches – “scholars are not religiously inept and disciples are not dumb” – is both heartening and timely. Secret Body may not be fully rational or fully defensible, but it certainly is an enjoyable read.

Maryanne Saunders is a PhD student in religion and 바카라사이트 arts at King’s College London.

Secret Body: Erotic and Esoteric Currents in 바카라사이트 History of Religions
By Jeffrey J. Kripal
University of Chicago Press,?448pp, ?34.00
ISBN 9780226126821 and 6491486 (e-book)
Published 11 December 2017