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Sacred Sexuality. From the Ancient Sumerians to Contemporary Esalen.

Geels, Antoon LU (2010) In Studies in Spirituality 20. p.355-379
Abstract
The aim of this article is to show that ideas pertaining to sacred sexuality or sacred marriage are as old as Sumerian culture. While mainstream Christianity developed an alternate view on sexuality, the Jewish Kabbalah transmitted similar ideas. In Asia, sacred sexuality has been an integrated dimension of Hinduism and Buddhism. All these spiritual traditions camte together in 18th century London, where we also encounter new influences from the Moravian Church and the Swedish visionary Emanuel Swedenborg. London becam a crucible for all traditions mentioned. The British artist William Blake came in touch with these ideas and he was heavily influenced by them. The article ends with a presentation of the contemporary Esalen institute in... (More)
The aim of this article is to show that ideas pertaining to sacred sexuality or sacred marriage are as old as Sumerian culture. While mainstream Christianity developed an alternate view on sexuality, the Jewish Kabbalah transmitted similar ideas. In Asia, sacred sexuality has been an integrated dimension of Hinduism and Buddhism. All these spiritual traditions camte together in 18th century London, where we also encounter new influences from the Moravian Church and the Swedish visionary Emanuel Swedenborg. London becam a crucible for all traditions mentioned. The British artist William Blake came in touch with these ideas and he was heavily influenced by them. The article ends with a presentation of the contemporary Esalen institute in California, USA, known for the human potential movement. At Esalen, sacred sexuality belongs to the main themes being discussed. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
sexuality, religion, sacred, mysticism, spirituality
in
Studies in Spirituality
volume
20
pages
355 - 379
publisher
Peeters Publishers
ISSN
1783-1814
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (015017000)
id
c34065e6-0c5e-4e6c-bb7b-db18668dcc52 (old id 2302576)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:03:17
date last changed
2018-11-21 19:54:32
@article{c34065e6-0c5e-4e6c-bb7b-db18668dcc52,
  abstract     = {{The aim of this article is to show that ideas pertaining to sacred sexuality or sacred marriage are as old as Sumerian culture. While mainstream Christianity developed an alternate view on sexuality, the Jewish Kabbalah transmitted similar ideas. In Asia, sacred sexuality has been an integrated dimension of Hinduism and Buddhism. All these spiritual traditions camte together in 18th century London, where we also encounter new influences from the Moravian Church and the Swedish visionary Emanuel Swedenborg. London becam a crucible for all traditions mentioned. The British artist William Blake came in touch with these ideas and he was heavily influenced by them. The article ends with a presentation of the contemporary Esalen institute in California, USA, known for the human potential movement. At Esalen, sacred sexuality belongs to the main themes being discussed.}},
  author       = {{Geels, Antoon}},
  issn         = {{1783-1814}},
  keywords     = {{sexuality; religion; sacred; mysticism; spirituality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{355--379}},
  publisher    = {{Peeters Publishers}},
  series       = {{Studies in Spirituality}},
  title        = {{Sacred Sexuality. From the Ancient Sumerians to Contemporary Esalen.}},
  volume       = {{20}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}