RUSSIAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE HUMANITIES

THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGION

and

THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF ESOTERICISM AND MYSTICISM

The various issues of relationship between science, the humanities and esoteric doctrines have been studied in academic research at least since mid-20 th century. Science philosophers define esotericism as a realm which lies between science and religion. Historians of science look into the works of the mages and alchemists for the rudiments of modern experimental science. Scholars of new religious movements claim that deployment of scientific language is one of the distinctive features of contemporary esotericism. The complicated relations between esotericism, social science and the humanities are prominent in ongoing scholarly discussions. The fact that representatives of esoteric community become aware of academic scholarship and themselves participate in its production calls for scrutiny.

The conference aims to:
1) formulate common methodological foundations for the study of science, the humanities, and esoteric doctrines;
2) study historical instances of the relationship between science, the humanities and esotericism;
3) problematize the relations between science, the humanities and esotericism considering different regional and national contexts;
4) study the influence of the humanities on the formation of contemporary esotericist rhetoric;
5) analyse different contexts of the relations between science, the humanities and religion as applied to mysticism and esotericism.

The applications for the speakers are due June, 5, 2025.
Those willing to speak at the conference should fill in the application on ASEM site:
https://aiem-asem.org/conferences

The organizing committee may request additional materials from the applicants in order to clarify the whereabouts of the application. The decision regarding each application will be made by the committee during the week following the deadline and will be sent to the applicants via e-mail. Prior to the start of the conference a program will be published with the names of the speakers and the abstracts of their presentations.

Working languages of the conference are Russian and English.

Information for the listeners:
It is possible to participate as listeners through prior registration. Those willing to participate at the conference should fill in the application on ASEM site.

The participation fee is due for:
- ASEM members and RSUH Center for the Study of Religion as speakers – 1000 rubles
- other speakers – 2000 rubles
- ASEM members as listeners – 500 rubles
- non-ASEM members as listeners – 1000 rubles
Members of the organizing committee and members of ASEM council are exempt from participation fees as speakers; students and employees of the RSUH Center for the Study of Religion, members of the organizing committee and members of ASEM council are exempt from participation fees as listeners.

All questions and comments are to be sent to the conference organizing committee:
asemconferenc2025@yandex.com.

The organizing committee:
N. V. Shaburov, PhD, RSUH Professor (co-chairman);
S. V. Pakhomov, PhD, RSPU Associate Professor (co-chairman);
V. S. Razdyakonov, Grand PhD, RSUH Professor;
P. G. Nosachev, Grand PhD, HSE Professor;
N. Radulovic, PhD, Belgrade University Professor
S. S. Petrukhin

Other events

Aside from the flagship conference, the association participates in organization of smaller events — conferences dedicated to more narrow fields of the study of esotericism, individual sessions, and roundtables.
Since 2016, we also organize annual summer schools dedicated to the study of esotericism and contemporary spirituality.