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Palgrave Macmillan

Damanhur

An Esoteric Community Open to the World

  • Book
  • © 2023

Overview

Editors:
  1. Stefania Palmisano

    1. Department of Culture Politics and Society, University of Turin, CLE, Torino, Italy

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  2. Nicola Pannofino

    1. Department of Culture Politics and Society, University of Turin, Torino, Italy

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Presents the combined scholarly literature on Damanhur
  • Analyzes the various spheres making up the social, cultural, spiritual and organisational life of Damanhur
  • Offers a multidisciplinary account of the community

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
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  2. Introduction

    • Stefania Palmisano, Nicola Pannofino
    Pages 1-18

  3. History and Organization

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 19-19
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    2. A Technocity Utopia

      • Luigi Berzano
      Pages 21-43

    3. The Community by Numbers

      • Anna Lo Presti, Monica Gilli
      Pages 45-74

    4. Ubi Societas, Ibi Ius: The Legal System

      • Monia Ciravegna
      Pages 75-96

    5. The Complex Politics of a Spiritually Oriented Intentional Community

      • Luca Ozzano
      Pages 97-113

    6. A Bridge Between Inside and Outside: The Economy

      • Nicola Pannofino
      Pages 115-134

    7. The School: A “Unique” Education?

      • Massimo Introvigne
      Pages 135-150

  4. Culture and Spirituality

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 151-151
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    2. Esotericism and Matter: Damanhur’s Post-Falco Spirituality

      • Stefania Palmisano
      Pages 153-175

    3. The Tourism Supply System

      • Monica Gilli
      Pages 177-199

    4. Heritagisation of Temples of Humankind

      • Giovanna Rech
      Pages 201-223

    5. Leaving the City of Light: Two Deconversion Paths

      • Mario Cardano, Marco Castagnetto
      Pages 225-253

    6. Women, Gender, Androgynous and Hierarchies in Damanhur

      • Elena Zapponi
      Pages 255-275

    7. Oberto Airaudi and the Community: Before-During-After

      • Maria Immacolata Macioti
      Pages 277-297

  5. Back Matter

    Pages 299-304
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Keywords

About this book

The Damanhur Federation, situated in Valchiusella, North-West Italy, is one of Europe’s longest-lasting spiritual-esoteric communities. Nevertheless, there has hitherto been nearly no scientific study of this group, with the exception of a handful of specialised-journal articles. This collection fills that gap by collating the various scholarly contributions which over the years have dealt with Damanhur, aiming to present the phenomenon to a public of specialists, students and people who are just curious in a volume focusing on the multidisciplinary nature of the community as a whole. We consider the various spheres making up the social, cultural, spiritual and organisational life of Damanhur through analysis and interpretation of its historical evolution and more recent changes which have affected the community since its founder’s death. The contributions combine field research with theoretical reflection, making use of both qualitative (discursive interviews and participant observation) and quantitative (questionnaires) methods.

Reviews

“This volume, composed of thirteen chapters written by Italian scholars, is intended to be an up-to-Date study concerning a new religious movement (NRM), The Community of Damanhur. … a recommended reading for those interested in the recent developments of The Community of Damanhur.” (Davide Marino, Religious Studies Review, Vol. 49 (3), September, 2023) Damanhur is one of the oldest and most intriguing “magical-esoteric” communities in Europe. Notable scholars narrate the multi-faceted story of this remarkable visionary community from its inception in the mid-1970s, to the 1992 revelation of its astonishing Temples of Humankind, to its ongoing evolution from insular community to denizen in the outside world.

-David G. Bromley, Founder/Director, World Religions and Spirituality Project

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Culture Politics and Society, University of Turin, CLE, Torino, Italy

    Stefania Palmisano

  • Department of Culture Politics and Society, University of Turin, Torino, Italy

    Nicola Pannofino

About the editors

Stefania Palmisano is Associate Professor in the Sociology of Religion at the University of Turin, Italy, where she teaches the Sociology of Religious Organization and the Sociology of Religion. . She is the author of several books, including Exploring New Monastic Communities. The Re-invention of Tradition (2015).

Nicola Pannofino is Research Fellow in Sociology of Religion at the University of Turin, Italy. He is the author (with Stefania Palmisano) of Invention of Tradition and Syncretism in Contemporary Religions: Sacred Creativity (Palgrave, 2017).



Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Damanhur

  • Book Subtitle: An Esoteric Community Open to the World

  • Editors: Stefania Palmisano, Nicola Pannofino

  • Series Title: Palgrave Studies in New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10137-3

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-10136-6Published: 27 November 2022

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-031-10139-7Published: 27 November 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-10137-3Published: 26 November 2022

  • Series ISSN: 2946-2657

  • Series E-ISSN: 2946-2665

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVII, 304

  • Number of Illustrations: 25 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Spirituality, History of World War II and the Holocaust

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