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In December of last year, RENSEP founder, trustee and Managing Director, Andrea Centore, got the pleasure of giving a guest talk entitled \u201cThe Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices (RENSEP),\u201d at the newly founded Centre for Advanced Studies \u2018Alternative Rationalities and Esoteric Practices\u2019 at Friedrich-Alexander Universit\u00e4t Erlangen-N\u00fcrnberg.<\/p>\n
During his talk, Andrea presented RENSEP\u2019s mission and its approach, highlighting its goal to disperse established boundaries by exploring aspects of friction as well as intersection between academic disciplines dedicated to the study of esoteric practices \u2013 such as, but not limited to, history, anthropology, sociology, cognitive study of religion, philology, area studies and neuroscience \u2013 between both scholars and practitioners of esoteric practices.<\/p>\n
He furthermore elaborated on RENSEP\u2019s unique approach. One based and built around three important elements: the inherent complexity of and global aspect to our subject of study; RENSEP\u2019s research network that will be utilized to challenge disciplinary boundaries; and RENSEP\u2019s online platform that will take the form of a shared cognitive and interactional space.<\/p>\n
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There is more. The article further mentions the four characteristics RENSEP has identified to demarcate esoteric practices from other forms of religious behaviour, and why the characteristic of \u201csecrecy\u201d \u2013 one that has long characterised scholarly definitions of esoteric practices \u2013 has been purposely left out of the equation.<\/p>\n
As you can guess, this is an interesting read for those who would like to read more about RENSEP from the mind of one of its very own founders. Especially, if one would like to know more about our online platform, which will be fully online from April 2023 onwards. On top of that, the article also elaborates on the Q&A session that succeeded Andrea\u2019s talk at CAS-E. One that made for an interesting and stimulating discussion.<\/p>\n