A republic of mind and spirit : a cultural history of American metaphysical religion /
"This path-breaking book tells the story of American metaphysical religion more fully than it has ever been told before, along the way significantly revising the panorama of American religious history. Catherine L. Albanese follows metaphysical traditions from Renaissance Europe to England and...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New Haven :
Yale University Press,
[2007]
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to this title online (unlimited users allowed) |
| Summary: | "This path-breaking book tells the story of American metaphysical religion more fully than it has ever been told before, along the way significantly revising the panorama of American religious history. Catherine L. Albanese follows metaphysical traditions from Renaissance Europe to England and then America, where they have flourished from colonial days to the twenty-first century, blending often with African, Native American, and other cultural elements. The book follows evolving versions of metaphysical religion, including Freemasonry, early Mormonism, Universalism, and Transcendentalism--and such further incarnations as Spiritualism, Theosophy, New Thought, Christian Science, and reinvented versions of Asian ideas and practices. Continuing into the twentieth century and after, the book shows how the metaphysical mix has broadened to encompass UFO activity, channeling, and chakras in the New Age movement--and a much broader new spirituality in the present. In its own way, Albanese argues, American metaphysical religion has been as vigorous, persuasive, and influential as the evangelical tradition that is more often the focus of religious scholars' attention. She makes the case that because of its combinative nature--its ability to incorporate differing beliefs and practices--metaphysical religion offers key insights into the history of all American religions."-- |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (xi, 628 pages) |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 517-599) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780300134773 0300134770 9786611734787 6611734783 |