I’m creating this site for two main purposes:
Firstly, to provide a resource for former seekers, devotees or disciples who may want to explore secular, historical and critical perspectives after leaving a spiritual path, movement or guru – particularly of the yoga or neo-Hindu variety, but to some extent also other New Age, ‘Eastern’ or meditation paths. Basically I wish to provide the kind of resource I would have found helpful in my own recovery from being a dedicated practitioner and devotee – a resource that would combine personal reflections and socio-historical studies, among others.
Secondly, to develop my budding academic interest in critical religious studies, particularly the ideologies of charismatic transnational neo-Hindu/yoga movements, as well as the histories of Indian religious traditions more generally. My interests are multi-disciplinary – spanning historical, sociological, political and psychological studies.
The site is still largely unpopulated at this point, but I envisage gradually developing it in the coming months and years. See below for a chronological list of updates to the site.
Estian
July 2011
Recent additions:
- 30 January 2012: Add a film analysis, Enlighten Up! Another Yoga Sceptic’s Thoughts on the Film.
- 30 September 2011: Start a section with resources on Modern gurus, science and the secular.
- 21-25 September 2011: Add a section: A random choice of links I like. Also add new entries to Modern yoga studies, Journals and Mailing lists.
- 16 August 2011: Add a section on Critics and former followers, with subsections on Books, Blogs and websites, and Forums.
- 23 July 2011: Add a section with suggested books and articles on Modern gurus and their movements.
- 11 July 2011: Start a section with suggested books and articles on Yoga, tantra, sāṅkhya and advaita traditions.
- 9 July 2011: Add section with suggested books and articles on Modern yoga studies.
- 3 July 2011: Update About me.
- 2 July 2011: Add the beginnings of a section on academic Mailing lists, including links to interesting threads on the history and interpretation of yoga.
- 24 June 2011: Add an article: A Transgender Reflection on Tai Chi, the Body and Enlightenment.
- 20 March 2011: Add a section on academic Journals.
