Alternative Religions Literature collection, 1910-2015, bulk 1960-2000

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Summary

Abstract:
The collection contains books and printed materials on alternative religions and spiritual ideologies. Within these materials are writings describing ideologies, practices, history, and discourse surrounding known 20th century alternative beliefs and figures from related fields.
Extent:
5.0 linear feet (5 cartons)
Language:
and English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Portugese, and Croatian.

Background

Scope and content:

The 1960s has been historically conspicuous for a large growth of the development and practice of non-traditional or alternative religious movements. As new religious and spiritual ideas expanded, old ideologies reemerged or diverged into newer lense of interpretation. This collection centers on alternative religions and philosophies consisting mainly of books, booklets, and other printed material, encompassing beyond the sixties revival but rather from the early 1900s to 2012, illustrating the variation in dissementation, hybridity, and evolution of alternative religions. The material span across many fields inquiry from the diversity of Metaphysics, Buddhism, Meditation, Geomancy, Psychicism, Astrology, Tarot, Kabbalah, Theosophy, Shamanism, Paganism, and to other esoteric spiritual studies. The material also includes concepts of gender and sexuality within the context of spirituality. The fear and superstition of alternative beliefs or actions out hegemonic social context at times incite hysteria and/or prejudice and there is a small subset of books detailing how modernity and traditional customs produce socio-cultural tensions in the form of persecution and superstition as a tool for power. Overall, these works traverse between fiction and nonfiction with some literature of erotica, mysteries, biographies, and thrillers surrounding mysticism, magic, the supernatural, or spiritual experience.

While many of themes intersect, the collection is arranged by theme or religious family and works are listed alphabetically.

Arrangement:

The collection has been arranged by subject.

Accruals:

Purchased, 2016.

Physical location:
Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for access.

Terms of access:

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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