Shamanism and the hidden history of modern kabbalah

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

African-American Spiritualists along with their specific belief systems were constantly subjected to a compounded type of historical repression, resulting in historical obscurity. This repression translated into specified modes of resistance against Spiritualists of color. Not only did African-American Spiritualists encounter resistance from within Spiritualism because of their race, but also they were subjected to an intra-communal form of resistance based upon class and geographical distinctions in African-American urban communities like Detroit. Deep in the recesses of Spiritualism's historical unconsciousness this marginalized activity, still driven by foundational Spiritualist principles, takes on other forms of expression. These African-American expressions of Spiritualism quite often evaded historical capturing because they appeared to be 'other' religious forms with no explicit connections to original Spiritualism. Intra-communal resistances against unorthodox forms of religious expression, especially against groups like the Church of God pre-1920 and organized Spiritualist groups post-1920, most often appeared in print.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHistories of the Hidden God
Subtitle of host publicationConcealment and Revelation in Western Gnostic, Esoteric, and Mystical Traditions
Pages175-192
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9781134935994
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Arts and Humanities

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