The Invention of Sacred Tradition

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511488450

The dictionary definition of tradition refers to beliefs and practices that have been transmitted from generation to generation, however, 'tradition' can rest simply on the claim that certain cultural elements are rooted in the past. Claim and documented historical reality need not overlap. In the domain of religion, historically verifiable traditions coexist with recent innovations whose origins are spuriously projected back into time. This book examines the phenomenon of 'invented traditions' in religions ranging in time from Zoroastrianism to Scientology, and geographically from Tibet to North America and Europe. The various contributions, together with an introduction that surveys the field, use individual case studies to address questions such as the rationale for creating historical tradition for one's doctrines and rituals; the mechanisms by which hitherto unknown texts can enter an existing corpus; and issues of acceptance and scepticism in the reception of dubious texts.

Review of the hardback:'… this book offers a wealth of descriptive material on an important aspect of invented religious traditions; it offers many insightful interpretive claims; and it provides essential materials for further theorizing these issues.'

Source: Religion

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of figures
pp vii-vii
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Notes on contributors
pp viii-xii
- By James R. Lewis, Lecturer in Philosophy University of Wisconsin, Olav Hammer, Professor History of Religions University of Southern Denmark
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Introduction
pp 1-17
- By Olav Hammer, Professor, History of Religions University of Southern Denmark, James R. Lewis, Lecturer in Philosophy University of Wisconsin
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1 - Scientology, scripture, and sacred tradition
pp 18-37
- By Mikael Rothstein, Associate Professor in History of Religions University of Copenhagen
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2 - “He may be lying but what he says is true”: the sacred tradition of don Juan as reported by Carlos Castaneda, anthropologist, trickster, guru, allegorist
pp 38-55
- By Charlotte E. Hardman, Senior Lecturer Department of Theology and Religion Durham University
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3 - The invention of sacred tradition: Mormonism
pp 56-74
- By Douglas J. Davies, Professor in the Study of Religion Durham University
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4 - Antisemitism, conspiracy culture, Christianity, and Islam: the history and contemporary religious significance of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
pp 75-95
- By Christopher Partridge, Professor of Religion Lancaster University; Co-director of the Research Centre for Religion and Popular Culture, Ron Geaves, Professor of Religious Studies University of Chester
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5 - The invention of a counter-tradition: the case of the North American anti-cult movement
pp 96-117
- By David G. Bromley, Professor of Religious Studies and Sociology School of World Studies Virginia Commonwealth University, Douglas E. Cowan, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Social Development Studies Renison College University of Waterloo
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6 - “Heavenly deception”? Sun Myung Moon and Divine Principle
pp 118-140
- By George D. Chryssides, Head of Religious Studies University of Wolverhampton
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7 - “Forgery” in the New Testament
pp 141-157
- By Einar Thomassen, Professor of Religion University of Bergen
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8 - Three phases of inventing Rosicrucian tradition in the seventeenth century
pp 158-176
- By Susanna Åkerman, Librarian Swedenborg Library in Stockholm
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9 - A name for all and no one: Zoroaster as a figure of authorization and a screen of ascription
pp 177-198
- By Michael Stausberg, Professor of the Study of Religion University of Bergen
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10 - The peculiar sleep: receiving The Urantia Book
pp 199-212
- By Sarah Lewis, Lecturer in Religious Studies University of Wales Lampeter
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11 - Ontology of the past and its materialization in Tibetan treasures
pp 213-240
- By Holly Gayley, Harvard University
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12 - Pseudo-Dionysius: the mediation of sacred traditions
pp 241-257
- By Kevin Corrigan, Professor of the Liberal Arts Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts Emory University Atlanta Georgia, Michael Harrington, Assistant Professor of Philosophy University of Dallas
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13 - Spurious attribution in the Hebrew Bible
pp 258-276
- By Philip R. Davies, Professor in the Study of Religion Durham University
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14 - Inventing Paganisms: making nature
pp 277-290
- By Graham Harvey, Lecturer in Religious Studies Open University
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Index
pp 291-306
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The Invention of Sacred Tradition

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

List of figures
pp vii-vii

Notes on contributors
pp viii-xii

Introduction
pp 1-17

1 - Scientology, scripture, and sacred tradition
pp 18-37

2 - “He may be lying but what he says is true”: the sacred tradition of don Juan as reported by Carlos Castaneda, anthropologist, trickster, guru, allegorist
pp 38-55

3 - The invention of sacred tradition: Mormonism
pp 56-74

4 - Antisemitism, conspiracy culture, Christianity, and Islam: the history and contemporary religious significance of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion
pp 75-95

5 - The invention of a counter-tradition: the case of the North American anti-cult movement
pp 96-117

6 - “Heavenly deception”? Sun Myung Moon and Divine Principle
pp 118-140

7 - “Forgery” in the New Testament
pp 141-157

8 - Three phases of inventing Rosicrucian tradition in the seventeenth century
pp 158-176

9 - A name for all and no one: Zoroaster as a figure of authorization and a screen of ascription
pp 177-198

10 - The peculiar sleep: receiving The Urantia Book
pp 199-212

11 - Ontology of the past and its materialization in Tibetan treasures
pp 213-240

12 - Pseudo-Dionysius: the mediation of sacred traditions
pp 241-257

13 - Spurious attribution in the Hebrew Bible
pp 258-276

14 - Inventing Paganisms: making nature
pp 277-290

Index
pp 291-306

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The Invention of Sacred Tradition

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