Episode 0090 · Aug 13, 1995 · 9m
August 13, 1995: Rituals, Myth, & Magic - Denny Sargent
Key Moments
Open transcriptEclectic ritualism as America's unspoken movementSargent argues that modern witchcraft is largely a revival of pre-Christian European paganism, and that what is really sweeping America is something he calls 'eclectic ritualism' - people sampling Tibetan Buddhism, Hopi sage, Thai temples, prayer flags, and Christian crosses simultaneously.
Denny Sargent, author of a new book on global ritualism, joins Art Bell to explore how ancient rituals from cultures around the world share striking similarities that point toward universal spiritual truths. Sargent draws on years of travel across twelve countries and extensive research into mythology, psychology, and anthropology to build what he calls a universal field theory of ritualism.
Sargent describes visiting pagan circles, witchcraft ceremonies, Buddhist temples, and indigenous rites, finding common threads connecting them all. He introduces the concept of eclectic ritualism, a growing movement he identifies in which modern seekers sample practices from multiple traditions, from Tibetan prayer flags to Hopi sage ceremonies to Christian crosses. Art Bell notes that yoga classes are now held at Lutheran churches, reinforcing how spiritual boundaries are dissolving. Sargent recommends foundational works by Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Mircea Eliade for those seeking deeper understanding of these patterns.
An engaging conversation that reveals how diverse spiritual traditions converge on shared human experiences, offering a compelling lens for understanding the quiet spiritual revolution sweeping modern culture.
Sargent describes visiting pagan circles, witchcraft ceremonies, Buddhist temples, and indigenous rites, finding common threads connecting them all. He introduces the concept of eclectic ritualism, a growing movement he identifies in which modern seekers sample practices from multiple traditions, from Tibetan prayer flags to Hopi sage ceremonies to Christian crosses. Art Bell notes that yoga classes are now held at Lutheran churches, reinforcing how spiritual boundaries are dissolving. Sargent recommends foundational works by Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, and Mircea Eliade for those seeking deeper understanding of these patterns.
An engaging conversation that reveals how diverse spiritual traditions converge on shared human experiences, offering a compelling lens for understanding the quiet spiritual revolution sweeping modern culture.
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